If you live in Geelong with a pet, chances are you have heard some mention of microchipping your pets. With evolving legislation and increased pet safety awareness, there is one question being asked increasingly in Australian pet owner circles: is microchipping mandatory under law? In this post, we will answer current mandatory microchipping legislation in Geelong, discuss your pet’s benefits, as well as some of the most prevalent issues surrounding the procedure.
Comprehend Microchipping Regulations in Geelong
Yes, chipping is mandatory in canines as well as in cats in Geelong. All Victoria canines, as well as cats, have to be chipped at 12 weeks of age or prior to being sold/given away, whichever is sooner, under Victorian law. All Victoria councils, as well as in metropolitan greater Geelong, have this policy in place.
Such legislation was practically executed under Domestic Animals Act 1994 as a means of recovering lost domestic animals back into one’s custody, in addition to further reducing animal shelter admission. Pet owners who defy orders of microchipping face fines, among other penal actions.
When your pet is registered with the City of Greater Geelong, you will need to provide evidence of microchipping as well as vaccination. This registration enables council officers to have a current pet number across the whole community.
Important Advantages of Pet Microchipping
There are various advantages of microchipping besides legislative requirement. It does allow lifetime identification such that it cannot be lost, broken, or removed like collar plates and tags. There is an identification number in each chip corresponding with your details in a National Database.
Microchipped lost pets have considerably greater chances of being reunited with their owner. Animal shelters as well as animal hospitals systematically scan rescued pets for microchips, thus expediting a foolproof identification process. Microchips have already reunited thousands of lost domestic pet animals in Australia with homes.
The process is simple and is not painful. A qualified veterinarian or technician places a tiny chip, roughly the size of a grain of rice, between your pet’s upper shoulder blades with a sterile needle. Most animals experience no more discomfort than they would with a routine vaccination.
Myths Surrounding Microchipping
There are some lingering myths surrounding pet microchipping which might be of concern among Geelong pet owners. Many fret about microchips being capable of locating your pet, as with a GPS. Microchips, however, are inactive identification devices which only yield information when they are read with an appropriate reader.
Another universal issue is any possible risk of health. There is widespread research verifying that being microchipped is safe for animals, since there have only been extremely minimal reactions. These chips have biocompatible materials, in no way causing allergic reactions or any kind of disruption of your pet’s normal behaviour.
Other pet owners think indoor cats won’t need a microchip since they’re always home. Even with the most faithful indoor cats, though, they can sometimes escape, get lost, or otherwise lose their home; identification is necessary in order to have them back safely.
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Securing Pet Safety and Compliance
Microchipping your Geelong cats and dogs is not only a legal requirement, it’s an investment in your pet’s security and your own peace of mind. It is affordable, it is permanent, and it could be the difference between your beloved companion being lost to you forever and them being reunited with you safely.
Advise dog microchipping services at Vets of Geelong to have any animals chipped who have not already had this excellent method of identification. Keep your contact details in the microchip register up to date at any time your phone number is changed, or you move, thereby facilitating the system as designed in case your pet becomes lost.
