Have you ever wondered what would happen if you didn’t have a birth certificate or an ID? How would you identify yourself and fit into society? Well, the same goes for our furry friends. If you don’t register your dog, they may face a crisis when it comes to identification and fitting into society.
In most countries and states, it’s mandatory to register your pet when they are between 4 to 6 months old. Failure to register your dog can result in an infringement notice, prosecution, or even a fixed or maximum penalty notice. However, registering your pet provides numerous benefits, including access to veterinary care, lost and found services, and protection against theft.
In our upcoming discussion, we’ll explore why dog registration is so important and how authorities may react if you fail to register your pet. Don’t miss out on this informative conversation that can help you keep your furry friend safe and secure.
What will happen if you never register your dog?
While dog registration is a mandatory legal requirement in many countries and states there are no national rules regarding your pet registrations.
It is usually handled by the state or local level. Therefore, dog registration laws are different from the country – country and state- state.
Although your country and state’s requirements for dog registration can be different, usually every pet needs to be registered after it reaches a certain age. ( mostly 4 months- 6 months)
Therefore, as a responsible pet parent who wants to provide the best care to your pet, you must register your pet with local authorities.
What might happen if you fail to register your dog? I must warn you it will not bring you a positive outcome.
Here are 5 legal actions the authorities can take against you.
1. An infringement notice can be issued.
The fee can differ from state to state.
2. A fixed penalty notice or a maximum penalty notice can be issued.
The fee for penalty can differ according to the temperament of your dog. If your pooch is a restricted dog or declared dangerous and aggressive, your penalty can be high in different states.
3. Impound the dog.
If the authorities find your dog wandering around the streets without your supervision, and if your dog does not wear the licensed tag, they will immediately seize and impound your dog.
This is not something you want your loving pet to go through.
Then you will be notified by the authorities, only if there is at least a name tag on your dog to identify yourself as his guardian.
Your dog will be released to you as per the rules followed by your state or local council.
4. Prosecution of the owner.
You will be charged for violating the state laws and a trial will be carried out against you. If your dog has bitten someone or behaved aggressively it can have more adverse effects.
5. If the owner of the dog is below 18 years.
If this is your daughters’ or sons’ dog and they are under the age of 18, you will be identified as the dog’s legal guardian.
Therefore, the legal actions mentioned previously will be valid to you.
Registering your pet is now mandatory in many countries and states. Registering your dog ensures that your dog can live in a pet-friendly environment, both the owner and the pet is provided with many facilities, registration helps to eradicate diseases in the community. Not registering your pet leads to legal actions against you.
By Miss Kaini (Veterinary undergraduate)
Is it bad if a dog is not registered?
Yes. It is not good that you leave your dog unregistered. As we previously discussed, dog registration is a legal requirement in many countries and states.
Therefore, the authorities can take legal action against you if you are caught.
You should register your dog not only because it is the law, but also because it provides many facilities for the well-being of your pet.
Stay with us and find out why you should register your dog.
By the way, here is what happens if your dog has never been to the vet.
What’ll happen if you don’t register a dog microchip?
Microchipping is mainly used to identify lost dogs and we have to agree it is one of the best ways to find a stolen or a lost dog.
However, it is not similar to registering your dog, but it is one of the first steps of the process of registering.
Microchipping is the process of placing a smart chip subcutaneously in your pet. It is the size of a rice grain and this process can be done by your vet.
However, after microchipping, you have to register your dog in a national database, or else there is no point in doing it.
A microchip carries a unique identification number for your pet. But it is not a GPS. Only if the microchip is scanned, it transmits the unique ID number.
This process will help you to identify and locate your lost pet. Therefore, when you register your dog after microchipping, provide authentic data about your contact information so that authorities can contact you if they find your loving pet.
Now you know what’s the basis behind microchipping. Now let’s see what happens if you do not register a dog microchip.
1. In case of losing your dog.
One of the main functions of microchipping is to find your dog in case you lose him or he is stolen from you.
If someone finds your wandering dog and hands him over to the authorities, you will be notified by the authorities about the whereabouts of your dog.
Microchipping is one of the easiest ways to get reunited with your loving pet. Therefore, it is an advantage for you and your pet.
2. Legal actions against you.
Similar to not registering your dog, if your pet is not microchipped, the authorities will not tolerate that.
You’ll be issued with a fixed penalty or a maximum penalty. Again I would like to remind you that the amount you have to pay will differ according to your country or state.
If your dog is an aggressive or a restricted dog your penalty will be increased.
Do the right thing and register your dog after microchipping because it will help to keep your loving pet safe.
These actions are made compulsory by the government to maintain a pet-friendly society where your pet and the society can live in harmony.
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What are the advantages of registering your dog?
We all know that registrations and microchipping take some time as well as take money out of your pocket. However, these are some reasons why you must register your dog with the authorities.
Let’s look at 5 advantages of registering your dog.
1. To maintain a safe and pet-friendly society.
Pet registration is one of the first steps to ensure a pet-friendly environment in your neighborhood.
The government has implied these laws so your pet can live in harmony with other animals and people in your area.
Pet registration protects the rights and needs of yourself and the pet by providing you with correct guidelines on how to take care of your pet in public and at your home.
This ensures that your pet is not harmed by others and vice versa.
Not only your pet but also your neighborhood will be protected by registration because if your pet is a restricted or aggressive dog, you will be provided with guidelines on how to take care of him in public places.
If you cannot control your dog they will provide you with further assistance. This step will prevent unnecessary dog bites and conflicts in your neighborhood.
2. You are provided with many facilities.
Pet registration and its renewal every year costs a few bucks, but it’s used for the betterment of your dog.
Many facilities are provided to you with pet registration.
Know these facilities so you can provide the best for your pet.
1. Animal training facilities.
When you register your dog with the local authorities, you will be provided with up-to-date professional dog training methods and skills.
Useful and professional help to train and improve the management skills of your pet will be included with some dog registrations.
2. Recreational activities for your pet.
Your lovely dog’s most awaited time of the day is to go out for a walk with you. A peaceful and well-maintained dog park is what you seek.
The pet registration fees provide to maintain the dog parks for the benefit of your pet.
Facilities like dog poo bins, shelter facilities, and pounds are maintained by the authorities to make your relaxing time more meaningful.
Your pet registrations come in handy if you want to enter your dog in dog shows, trails, and other competitive events.
3. Provide you with information.
If you register your pet, you can always reach the authorities and receive free authentic information about microchipping, neuter facilities, vaccination programs, and also you can get registered with online causes on responsible dog ownership.
The information provided by different local and state authorities can be variable.
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4. Provide you with animal management staff.
The animal management staff is one of the essentials to maintain a pet-friendly environment in your neighborhood.
They are needed to attend to investigate dog bites and attacks, barking complaints, wandering dogs, get the stray dogs and cats, manage the pounds, and shelters for dogs.
If you come across one such need you can get help from the authorities to manage the situation.
5. Manage domestic animal business.
Pet shops, breeding centers, kennels, shelters, and pounds are important to maintain a pet-friendly society.
However, maintaining quality facilities requires constant monitoring and auditing of these business centers.
These will be managed by the authorities with your dog registration fees so your pet can get the best.
3. Eradicate diseases.
One of the main reasons to encourage pet registration by the government is because it is one step to eradicate diseases in the pet community as well as to prevent transmission of diseases from animals to humans.
In order to register your pet, your pup should be fully vaccinated and desexed. When you want to renew the license annually, your pet should be up-to-date with its rabies vaccine shot.
Along with the rabies vaccination, your pet can undergo a normal check-up which will help to identify any other diseases condition at an early stage.
This step will help to eradicate rabies and other transmissible diseases from your area.
4. In the case of a dog bite.
There might be instances where your dog might accidentally bite someone.
In such a situation your pet registration is very important because you can either avoid punishment or your penalty will not be that harsh if you have registered your pooch.
You can provide the registration papers to the authorities in such an instance. However, if you have failed to register your dog, a dog bite can cause you a lot of trouble.
As one of the essential facilities provided by dog registration, you can also seek help from the animal management staff on how to prevent such accidents.
There are dog bite educational programs as well.
5. Reunification with your pet.
As with microchipping, pet registration also helps you to find your lovely pet in case it is lost or stolen from you.
Once you register your pet it will be provided with a licensed tag which should be worn all the time if you are taking him outside.
Therefore, if he is lost and the authorities find him they can quickly contact you and return your lovely pet.
So it’s always better to register your dog therefore, he is entitled to the advantages stated above.
Things to be aware of.
- You need to keep in mind that it is mandatory to register your pet with local authorities or the proper governing body.
- Information required for registration –
These are some of the essential details required, however, these can change according to your country or state.
- Owners’ details
- Pets’ details – date of birth, its parent’s information, breed.
- Up-to-date vaccination details.
- Copy of veterinary certificate if the dog is desexed.
- Microchip number if the dog is already microchipped.
- If your dog changes ownership or if you change your address you must notify the local authorities, therefore they can add this information to the registration.
- Microchipping is not always the best way to find your lost pet. Never underestimate the power of a proper collar and a tag containing your contact details, because anyone who gets hold of your dog can simply contact you through that.
Conclusion.
Dog registration is now a mandatory requirement for your dog. This article points out the most important facts about pet registration, microchipping, and its advantages.
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