Ever Lost A Pet?
Each year, many pets in Brisbane are lost, and, unfortunately many of those lost pets never find their owners. Thousands of dogs and cats are euthanased each year in Brisbane alone because their owners cannot be located. If your pet is microchipped, there is a much greater chance that they will return to you safely. Microchips will last for your pet’s lifetime as there are no moving parts and nothing to replace.
A microchip is a small computer chip that has an identification number programmed into it. It is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle. Once implanted, the I.D. number cannot be altered or removed, and a layer of connective tissue forms around the chip preventing it from moving about.
Some people are hesitant to microchip their pet because they are afraid it will hurt. The procedure is simple, routine, and painless, and it doesn’t require any anesthesia. Your pet simply gets an injection just under the loose skin between the shoulder blades; it’s a lot like getting vaccinated. Most animals don’t react at all. Long term studies have shown that the microchip is very safe for your pets. Microchips are mandatory for all cats and dogs under the new Brisbane City Council Animal Managment Act – (see below)
The chip contains an identification code that is unique to your pet. Most veterinarians and animal shelters have scanners that can read that identification code from all brands of microchip.
Ideally, leashes, fences, and doors would be enough to keep your pet safe at home, but in the real world, accidents happen, and your pet depends on you to protect him or her against the things that could go wrong.
Microchipping costs (table below) for a lifetime chip and lifetime registration. (please note this is not the same as council registration and your dog still needs to be registered with your local council) It’s a very small price to pay for peace of mind that your pet will not end up separated from you or worse still euthanased at an animal shelter.
| 1 Microchip | $103.00 each |
| 2 Microchip | $84.00 each |
| 3-5 Microchip | $72.00 each |
| 5+ Microchip | $57.00 each |
New Council Requirements for Dogs and Cats in Brisbane
All animals desexed after July 1, 2009 will receive a compulsory tattoo in one of their ears to signify that they have been desexed.
All cats and dogs born after April 1, 2009 must have a microchip implanted by the time they are 12 weeks of age. For dogs and cats that are older than this, microchipping is recommended but not compulsory, unless the pet is sold or given away in which case a microchip must be implanted.
All dogs MUST be registered with the Brisbane City Council if they are over 12 weeks of age. Cats are no longer required to be registered in the Brisbane City Council area.
Click here for more information on dog and cat registration in Brisbane