COMPULSORY MICROCHIPPING OF PET DOGS COMES INTO EFFECT

Compulsory microchipping of pet dogs in Bulgaria has come into force, the “Four Paws” foundation said on 20th of February.

The microchip is the only way to identify connection between dog owners and their dogs.

The requirement was adopted through the amendments to the Law on Veterinary Practice in order to prevent the abandoning of pet dogs as well as theft.

Dog owners are required to take the dog, after 4 months of age, to the vet to get microchipped. The information about the dog should be recorded into the integrated information system of the Bulgarian Agency for Food Safety, the Director of four Paws Bulgaria, doctor Marina Ivanova said.

The microchip, also known as injectable transponder, is a glass capsule at the size of a rice grain, which is injected under the skin on the left side of the neck of the dog. It contains a 15-digit unique code against which information about the owner as well as information on the health of the animal, description and photos can be entered into the system of the Bulgarian Agency for Food Safety (BAFS). The code of the chip is read by a device, required to be available in every vet office. The implanting of the microchip is painless and does not carry any risk to the health of the pet.

The Four Paws also reminds that owners have to register the pets in the relevant local tax offices for the purpose of paying the annual fee for owning a pet. The size of the fee varies depending on the location. Certain categories of dogs are exempted from the fee.

The receipts from the fees are used for activities related to reduction of the number of stray dogs.

A check by the "Four Paws" in the integrated information system of BAFS shows that 80,724 dogs have been microchipped to date. Their number increased by 18 972 in 2016. 1505 animals have been identified since the beginning of 2017.