What is this new microchip system for pet dogs and cats that started in Japan this month?
Businesses that breed or sell dogs and cats are now required to implant microchips in their animals before selling them. The cylindrical microchip is 1 to 2 millimeters across and 8 to 12 millimeters long. The veterinarians implant the chips behind the necks of pets using an instrument that looks like a syringe.
Why is it mandatory to implant chips?
A: Because the system makes it easier to find owners when pets are lost or abandoned. The microchip contains a 15 digit number, and pet sellers register information including the number, breed and date of birth in the central government's database. It's like a tiny ID card in a sense. By June 20 there were about 150,000 dogs and cats registered under the new system. The licenses of breeders and sellers that do not follow the rule can be revoked.
Q: Do pet owners have to do anything?
A: They need to register their name, address, and phone number within 30 days of buying a pet. When a special microchip information reader scans over a dog or cat, their identification number displays, from which the owner's name and contact information can be traced. Owners are obliged to invest in microchips, which cost roughly 5,000 yen to 10,000 yen about $37 - 73 Q: Some dogs and cats have had microchips since before, haven't they?
A: Some private groups voluntarily went about promoting microchips and organizing a database after many dogs and cats were lost in the wake of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. Following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, a revision to the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals was enacted in 2019. As many as 24,000 dogs and cats were taken in by local bodies and were put down in fiscal 2020. The law revision is intended to make it easier to find owners and reduce the number of irresponsible owners who abandon pets.