Hamilton first to bring in microchips for pets

Veterinarians in Hamilton have adopted a co-ordinated approach to using microchips to identify domestic pets.

The plan makes Hamilton the first city in the country to introduce a microchip scheme ahead of next year's new laws.

Under the "technopets" scheme, backed by Hamilton City Council's Animal Care and Control unit, dogs and cats will have a grain-of-rice sized microchip implanted between their shoulder blades.

Every vet in the city will use the same system, which means that animals can be easily scanned, providing a unique identification number that can be matched to the animal's owner.

From next July 1, microchips must be inserted in all dogs registered for the first time.

The scheme is separate to rural sector moves to look at individual identification for livestock - including the possibility of using radio frequency identification microchips inserted under the animals' skin - to satisfy Northern Hemisphere food safety concerns about tracing meat.

All dogs classified as "menacing" must also have the chip.

Hamilton veterinarian Dr Craig Brighouse said about 10 family pets a week were being microchipped now and there had been immediate benefits.

"Cats are more likely to be run over and brought in injured and without their owners," he said.

"All we can do without the owner's consent is make them stable, and provide pain relief.

"Now, with a microchip we can scan the pet and get the owner's details within minutes ...

"Even breeders are seeing the benefits of having animals microchipped."

- NZPA