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SINGAPORE: The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has announced, starting September 1, a dog must first be microchipped before its owner is issued a licence.
All new dog owners must submit documentary proofs from veterinarians to show that their dogs have been microchipped.
Dogs that are licensed before September 1, 2007 will be exempt, but owners are strongly encouraged to have their dogs microchipped for better traceability.
The cost of microchip insertion ranges from S$40 to S$80, and most dog owners believe it is a small price to pay for the peace of mind the chip provides.
"I'm actually very scared of losing my dog. So in case I lose it, I can actually try to look (for it) and probably people will not put it to sleep, thinking that it's a stray dog," said Cleo Tay, owner of a two-year-old dog.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) also welcomed the new regulation by AVA.
According to SPCA, out of the 80 to 90 dogs it takes in every month, less than half are claimed by their owners. It believes the chips will help cut the number of cases of abandoned dogs.
"A lot of them are pedigree dogs too, and many of them are not claimed back. There's no identification on them. So if dogs are being microchipped, it certainly will help us in tracing the owners," said Deirdre Moss, Executive Officer of SPCA. - CNA/ac
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