Microchipping works by putting a small passive RFID chip that’s generally enclosed in glass, under the dog’s skin near the shoulder blades. The laws around this are specified in the 2015 Microchipping of Dogs Regulation (MODR) regulation (link).
On Dogs.ie we ask every advertiser if they have already microchipped the dogs / puppies already, illegal to sell any dog without it being microchipped. All dogs over 12 weeks of age must also be microchipped.
Microchip FAQ
We’ve put together a few questions that people generally ask us about microchips
- Does microchipping hurt my dog?
- Your dog / puppy will experience a small nick, which is similar to what they feel when they are getting their vaccinations. Any yelps or screams is generally due to shock rather than pain.
- Why do we microchip dogs?
- It’s the law, which has been active since March 31st 2016. It serves as a way to identify missing animals and reunite them with their owners. It also serves to protect buyers of pets where they know that they are buying a dog from the genuine owner.
- How much does it cost?
- Generally, fees are around €20 – €40 per dog. There are three parts to the fee: the chip, the insertion of the chip by a trained professional and the registration of the chip. Please check with your local vet / ISPCA / etc. The registration fee covers the registration in one of the 4 Irish approved databases
- these companies are all required by law to share their information with Europetnet.org This site federates microchip information across Europe and aids in the case your dog is lost.
- Can I implant the chip myself?
- No, only trained vets / nurses or specially trained people are allowed to microchip dogs. Furthermore vets are not allowed to microchip their own animals.
- How old should a puppy be before they are implanted?
- Puppies can be microchipped at any age, generally, it’s recommended to do it between 6-8 weeks. All dogs over the age of 12 weeks are legally required to be microchipped.
- Can I sell my old dog if it’s not microchipped?
- No. It is illegal to sell a dog that is not microchipped (read more on this topic).
- Does a microchip replace a dog license?
- No they are two separate systems. You still need to do both. Details of a dog licence can be seen here.
- What happens after microchipping with that information ?
- The 2nd part to microchipping is registration. All dogs need to be registered to a person on one of the 4 databases (listed in #3). The first registered owner is the breeder. Each successive owner of the dog will do a transfer of the dog into their name. This information is accessible to dog wardens, Gardai in the event your dog is found.
- What happens if I don’t have my dog chipped?
- Fines can go up to €5,000 and a dog warden may seize your dog.
- What type of information must be record for the microchip ?
- Per MODR 2015, Section 5 paragraph 2, the following are required:
- the unique identifier of the microchip inserted in the dog,
- the date of insertion of microchip,
- the date of birth of the dog,
- description of the dog which may include breed, colour and markings,
- the sex of the dog,
- the address of the premises where the dog is normally kept,
- the name, address and contact details of the owner and, if different, person having possession or control of the dog,
- the identity (including a unique identifying code assigned by the Database operator) of the person who microchips and registers a dog,
- Per MODR 2015, Section 5 paragraph 2, the following are required:
* Note : Buyers should ask for the certificate of registration that goes with registering the dog in the microchip database. The seller needs to insure the ID of the buyer and fill out the transfer forms to the new owner. Every dog that is sold is required to have a microchip that’s fully registered before they can sell the dog or advertise it (more on selling dogs can be seen here).
Further questions can be asked here or emailed to The Department of Agriculture : dogmicrochipping@agrculture.gov.ie.
