Since the issue of new microchipping regulations, the number of dogs receiving the treatment has risen to over 6,500, Resources Minister George Pullicino told Parliament in reply to a question by Anthony Agius Decelis (PL).

In answer to several supplementary questions, Mr Pullicino said the regulations gave dog owners until the end of June 2012 to microchip their dogs. They would have to pay no penalties for not having paid the police licence to keep their dogs in previous years. The police licence had been required since 1918, but had largely been ignored.

The licence was no longer in effect. Mr Pullicino compared the payment of 10 years’ licences, costing a total of €23.30, to payment of €11.80 (VAT included) in the case of neutered dogs or €22.70 for non-neutered dogs.

The discrepancy was based on the principle that a neutered dog eliminated the procreation of strays in the streets.

Strays that were brought in to St Francis Centre for Animals at Ta’ Qali were microchipped before being given homes.

The price included the microchip itself, its injection and the replacement of the police licence.

Each microchip would have a number and owner’s details that would be recorded in the National Livestock Database.