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Own a dog? You have to microchip it very soon

The government is providing €100,000 to charities who provide the service.

THE DEPARTMENT OF Agriculture is going to make €100,000 available to charities to assist in microchipping dogs.

Shutterstock-185361641 Dreaming about microchips, no doubt. Shutterstock Shutterstock

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said charities “with a proven track record in this work are eligible to apply for funding”.

Under new regulations owners must ensure that:

  • All pups born from June 2015 onwards are microchipped by the age of 12 weeks
  • All pups being offered for sale must be identified by way of microchip from September onwards
  • All dogs in the country must be microchipped from March 2016 onwards

“Under the regulations, owners must not just ensure their dog is microchipped, they must also ensure that they are registered with correct contact details on an authorised database,” Coveney said.

Puppy farms

Speaking at the animal welfare conference held in Farmleigh today, Coveney also announced that a joint inspection regime of puppy farms involving veterinary inspectors from his department and local authorities has commenced in recent weeks.

Over 50% of registered establishments have now been inspected and inspections are ongoing. The department has also undertaken a number of inspections with the various NGOs.

Coveney told told delegates: “When sourcing dogs, there are many charitable organisations such as Dogs Trust, DSPCA and ISPCA and many others who are involved in the rescue and re-homing of dogs, where you can acquire a pet suitable to your circumstances. In addition, there are many responsible breeders you can go to where you can be confident that the health and welfare of the animals have been well looked after.

These responsible breeders will be happy to show you the dogs in their home environment and can provide suitable supporting documentation in relation to the dog’s health, vaccination status, microchip number and registration.

You should avoid buying dogs from unknown individuals and of unknown provenance as these are less likely to have been bred in a welfare satisfactory environment.”

Read: Own a dog? You will HAVE to microchip it from next year

Read: Dogs snub people who are mean to their owners

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24 Comments
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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Jun 12th 2015, 2:27 PM

    Almost twenty years ago I had my dog, and my two cats, microchipped. This was done at the local Vet and was a simple procedure. I wanted to ensure that there was at lease a chance that my pets would be returned to me in the event that they strayed. Why is everything in this country a big drama. Get your pets microchipped. If you can’t afford to have this done, you can’t afford a pet.

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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Jun 12th 2015, 2:33 PM

    Apologies for double post – don’t really know how to work this stuff.

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    Mute mrs b
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    Jun 12th 2015, 2:52 PM

    Am wholly sick of the self righteous “if you can’t afford a chip you shouldn’t have a pet” comments.. enough already.. I’ve had pets when I lived on the poverty line and they were well looked after and loved. Contrary to these remarks you CAN own a pet and be poor. Obviously no one wants to be poor but it doesn’t stop you being a decent owner. I have always taken my animals to vets when required even when it meant sacrificing something else.

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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Jun 12th 2015, 3:06 PM

    It only has to be done ONCE, missus. It isn’t a recurring expense like vaccinations etc., Sorry if I appeared ‘self righteous’. Just believe that there is a minimum you do for your pets – and I have gone without to finance it myself.

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    Mute Bobby Neary
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    Jun 12th 2015, 2:05 PM

    That dog looks like he’s after necking a bag of green

    101
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    Mute Philip foster
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    Jun 12th 2015, 2:10 PM

    Microchip PEADOS & abusers put the money into that

    91
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    Mute mickmc
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    Jun 12th 2015, 3:10 PM

    considering dog licence’s aren’t enforced I can’t see this catching on.

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    Mute John Carmody
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    Jun 12th 2015, 3:01 PM

    Animal welfare as long as it only concerns dogs cats and horses. This meeting excluded animal rights and anti-blood sport campaigners but invited those involved in blood sports to this joke of a so called “animal welfare conference”. A disgrace to put it mildly. And all hush hush to avoid protests.

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    Mute Cheryl Mellett
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    Jun 13th 2015, 3:00 AM

    Cats did not feature either Mr. Carmody

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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Jun 12th 2015, 2:21 PM

    What is the big problem? Almost twenty years ago I got my dog microchipped – and my two cats. Bish bash bosh, the job was done, OK I paid for it, but I cared for my pets and wanted them returned in the event that they strayed. Why does everything become a big drama?

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    Mute Noel Cosgrave
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    Jun 13th 2015, 4:05 PM

    Why does everything have to be mandated by government?

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    Mute Mick Bacon
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    Jun 12th 2015, 5:19 PM

    Does me pet leopard need to be chipped .

    38
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    Mute Vincent Bickerstaffe
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    Jun 12th 2015, 1:54 PM

    microchip babies next

    37
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    Mute Mick Hannigan
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    Jun 12th 2015, 6:48 PM

    so we have to wait till offenders are caught??

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    Mute Barney r
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    Jun 12th 2015, 7:41 PM

    Who will inforce this? Nobody available.
    Did tatoo on greyhounds ear stop illegal selling and dumping?
    Responsable owners will get chip and pay for dog licence, rest could’nt care less as no penalty.
    Laws and prosecution in relation to animal cruelity is a joke.

    31
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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Jun 12th 2015, 2:31 PM

    Nearly twenty years ago I had my dog, and my two cats, microchipped as I wanted the best chance of them being returned should they stray. It was done by our local Vet, bish bash bosh – ok, I had to pay for it. If you cannot afford to microchip your pet, you cannot afford a pet. Why does everything in this country have to become a drama?

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    Mute Mick Hannigan
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    Jun 12th 2015, 6:53 PM

    I have a dog and he has no micro chip, mybad, I welcome the move, will chip him over the next week, he is always with me so I would have been one of those or am one of those stupid people who said what’s the point as he is always with me or in sight or in the house if I go out, but I get it,

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    Mute John Fitzgerald
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    Jun 13th 2015, 1:18 PM

    This so-called “animal welfare” conference was a joke. The Minister completely avoided any reference to the fact that the Animal Health and Welfare Act, which he pledged would be a shining light for the rest of Europe, exempts a whole range of extremely cruel practices from prohibition.

    Instead of outlawing hare coursing, fox hunting, and the perverted practice of “digging out” foxes and cubs that try to escape underground during a hunt, the Act FULLY PERMITS these activities. Instead of protecting hares and foxes, it protects the interests of the powerful and lavishly financed pro–blood sport fraternity that derives a sick pleasure from tormenting and cruelly killing animals.

    The Minister promised the Act would be the envy of Europe when in fact it allows forms of deliberate animal cruelty that most of Europe has long since abolished. The Minister likes to project an image of himself as a liberal “cool dude” who’s keeping up with the times. He is very far behind on hare coursing and fox hunting…all the way back to the Dark Ages when terrorizing animals for fun was the “in thing.”

    He speaks of an animal’s “welfare”. There’s not much of that in evidence at a dig-out scene when the spade and terrier thugs drag a fox or cub to the surface and toss its still live, pain-racked body to the waiting pack…or at a coursing event where these gentle creatures are mauled and tossed about like rag dolls. The exemptions for blood sports in the Act need to be removed for it to have any credibility. This is 2015 for God’s sake…not 1015.

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    Mute SteveW
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    Jun 13th 2015, 12:02 AM

    WTf has happened to this country where everything has to be micro chipped? Believe me there will come a day not to far off when we all will be standing in a line for the same treatment with no say in the matter….

    12
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    Mute Ban Bloodsports
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    Jun 13th 2015, 2:35 PM

    This animal welfare conference excluded groups campaigning against hare coursing and fox hunting, which Minister Coveney refuses to ban. He did the same last year and many groups protested outside Dublin Castle, where the conference was held. This year, they managed to keep the conference a secret until the last minute. Even some TDs, who are avid champions of animal welfare issues and opposed to bloodsports and other cruelties permitted by Coveney, were only told at the last minute, so as to avoid any protests. Last year, my organisation, the Irish Council Against Bloodsports, was excluded, and when I rang an official in the Dept of Agriculture, to ask why we hadn’t received an invitation, I was told to “shut the f— up”. I complained and later received a grudging apology from the said official. Also, last year, the foxhunters were invited to the conference, while those of us opposed to bloodsports were excluded. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the bloodsports crew were at the conference yesterday. So much for democracy, transparency and inclusivity in this little country of ours!!

    11
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 12th 2015, 7:16 PM

    Wonder who will ignore this ?

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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Jun 14th 2015, 1:32 PM

    The minister brags about the measures he brought in to help the welfare of animals. What he won’t brag about it that no where in his measures does he include ANYONE to enforce any if these measures, which in fact makes them worthless. The only reason the microchipping was brought in , is that it is a EU directive….in otherwords its complusory to do so. If this government and this Minister were seirous about the welfare of animals , they would subsidise the cost of neutering and spaying, ensure that all pounds were forced to advertise their strays for rehoming and neuter them before re homing them. The Minister is clearly not interested in the welfare of the animals of these country as he turns a blind eye to the barbaric practice of mink and fox hunting. He supports the practice of badger and deer culling, even though there is no concrete evidence that these animals transmit disease to cattle. As a country we are a total disgrace when it comes to the welfare of our animals.

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    Mute Noel Cosgrave
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    Jun 13th 2015, 4:04 PM

    So when are the appropriately harsh penalties for animal cruelty going to be brought in? We are already drowning in laws. We don’t need more. What we need is the laws we already have to be properly enforced and with sentences that act as a proper deterrent.

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    Mute Emer O Connor
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    Jun 14th 2015, 7:47 PM

    You will have to microchip IT??

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