Press Releases

Stepping up inspection of dog licences
Friday, November 19, 1999

The Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) will step up inspection of dog licences around the territory next month to remind dog owners to have their dogs licenced and microchipped.

Speaking on the campaign today (Friday), Veterinary Officer, Dr David Ip, said: "This is part of the continuing effort of the department to promote the dog microchipping scheme."

Dog microchipping was introduced in December 1996 in accordance with provisions of the Rabies (Amendment) Regulation 1996.

It is specified that all dogs over five months of age should be implanted with a microchip when it was first licenced.

As a dog licence is valid for three years, all owned dogs in the territory should be microchipped by December this year.

"By then, dog owners found not having their dogs implanted with a microchip will be prosecuted and offenders will be liable to a maximum fine of $10,000," Dr Ip said.

Since mid-October, AFD's Animal Management Division has stepped up efforts to facilitate dog owners to have their dogs microchipped and it will continue until next month.

Dr Ip said: "Special operations have been arranged to check for dog licences on streets, at villages and within construction sites.

"Leaflets will be distributed to dog owners who have not had their dogs implanted with microchips, urging them to comply with the requirement without delay," he added.

The four Animal Management Centres of AFD have so far arranged for more than 120 visits to some distant villages and during which about 3,300 dogs were vaccinated, licenced and microchipped.

Special focuses have been put to the inspection of dog licences at construction sites. More than 150 visits were arranged and about 100 dogs were licenced and microchipped.

Announcement notices have been distributed to pet shops and veterinary clinics for posting up at appropriate places to remind dog owners of the requirement.

More than 80,000 dogs in Hong Kong can now be permanently identified by microchips.

Dr Ip said each implanted microchip would carry a unique identification number.

When a number is fed into AFD's database, the name, address, contact telephone number of the dog owner and the vaccination history of the dog will be shown.

With the help of the microchip, staff of the department will be able to re-unite lost pets with their owners.

"It also enables us to track down irresponsible owners who have allowed their dogs to stray and cause nuisances to other people," he said.

Dr Ip noted that the system would help identify dogs which had not been vaccinated against rabies or those which were overdue for a booster shot.

"The microchip system has been introduced as part of the rabies prevention programme in the territory.

"Although rabies has not occurred in Hong Kong for more than ten years, it is still necessary to be vigilant to prevent it from re-occurring," he added.

Dogs can be vaccinated and microchipped at the four Animal Management Centres:

Vaccination and implantation of microchip can also be done by authorized veterinary surgeons and at SPCA centres/ clinics.

Dog owners who wish to obtain more information on the issue may call AFD's animal management hotline at 2362 3257.