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13.	Microchip Identification

In the event that your pet leaves home without you, for whatever reason, if it is microchipped the chances of a safe return are greatly increased.

The process involves inserting a tiny microchip under your pet's skin where it stays safely for life. The insertion procedure is quick and simple with little or no discomfort no matter how small your pet. This is the most infallible way of permanently identifying your pet. The microchip has it's own worldwide "unique" code number. When a scanner is passed over the area your pets unique number is shown. Your pets details are registered for life on an Australasian wide database.

Ponsonby Veterinary Centre is a NZVA accredited microchipping centre. This accreditation ensures you the highest quality standards are being used when administering this modern technology. Auditing is performed on clinics with this accreditation to ensure that we meet the required standard.

The New Microchipping Regulations

You may or may not be aware that the Dog Control Act was recently amended by Parliament. One resulting measure has attracted considerable media attention, namely the compulsory microchipping of all dogs newly registered after the 1st of July 2006 (with the exception of working dogs.)

The aim of the scheme is to make dog control laws easier to enforce, since animal control officers will be able to scan dogs, identify their owners through the microchip system, and enforce fines etc. as necessary. However it also has some flow-on benefits in terms of animal welfare, since it will alleviate the frequent problem of sick or injured dogs being brought into shelters or veterinary clinics by members of the public who do not know who the true owners are. We have always advocated microchipping for dogs and cats on those grounds.

The database of microchip numbers is maintained by Internal Affairs and accessible through local authorities. However this database has limited availability out of hours, which detracts from it's use in welfare or emergency situations. For this reason we are encouraging people to have a dual registration with the Australasian Animal Registry, who New Zealand clinics have been using over recent years. The fee for doing this is reflected in our current price for microchipping.