Microchipping of dogs is to be made compulsory, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has announced.
From September, owners of puppies will be required to have a microchip inserted in the animal which will carry details of the dog as well as owners’ names and addresses.
The scheme is to be extended to all dogs by March 2016.
The move has been welcomed by Dogs Trust, Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity, which said it “marks a breakthrough for dog welfare in Ireland”.
The trust said it has financially assisted in the microchipping of over 5,500 dogs to date and will continue to offer subsided microchippng.
Announcing the scheme Mr Coveney said microchipping of all dogs would have positive benefits in protecting the welfare of all dogs and helping to speedily unite stray dogs with their owners.
It would also act as a deterrent for those who abandon dogs and assist in identifying marauding dogs and those that pose a threat to livestock or people, he said.
Mr Coveney said the cost of the implanting of microchips and data registration services has been falling, and would probably fall further given the economies of scale that the new compulsory scheme will undoubtedly bring. “Quite a number of subsidised micro chipping initiatives have been introduced by a number of animal welfare charities” he said.
Dogs Trust urged dog owners to check the details on the microchip are current and correct, and if the animal changes ownership or moves home, these details should be updated.
