MB 6 Pets B

Charagma Watch (July 22, 2003)
An Annotated Update of
"Evaluation of the Church in the U.S.A." (1982, 1983)
by John and Sylvia Ronsvalle, empty tomb, inc., Champaign, IL

VI.

RFID Microchip Implants: Pets and Other Animals

Posted: November 5, 2003

A.

Introduction

Microchipping of pets preceded that of humans by some 20 years. The historical development of pet microchipping is of added interest insofar as it may provide insights into various future developments and issues related to the microchipping of humans.

B.

Number of Pets Chipped in the United States, and Timeframe for Spreading

1.

December 22, 2001 Philadelphia AP Story

A December 22, 2001 Philadelphia AP story provides a brief overview of the history and extent of microchipping within the United States:

[QUOTE]

In the last few years, millions of dogs and cats-as well as tigers and other unusual pets-have been implanted with these microchips, which are encoded with unique numbers to make identifying lost, stolen or abandoned animals a snap...

Microchip implantation has been around since the 1980s but was relatively rare until the mid-1990s, when chipmakers introduced a universal scanner that could read every model.

Scanners are now found in most shelters and animal control agencies across the country, according to Mary Madsen, a customer service supervisor for AVID Identification Systems Inc. Norco, Calif.-based AVID is one of two dominant chipmakers. As of last year, 2.5 million pets were listed in the company database.

The American Kennel Club operates the other database, which contains more than 1.1 million pets and is affiliated with Schering-Plough Animal Health, distributor of the HomeAgain chip.

Most of the pets in the AKC database are dogs (842,645) and cats (265,349). However, HomeAgain chips, made by Destron Fearing Corp., can also be found in birds, horses, rabbits, tigers, monkeys, seals and many other unusual pets.

More than 70,000 lost pets have been reunited with their owners since the AKC program's inception in 1995, said Associate Director Keith Frazier.³⁹[UNQUOTE]

April 19, 2000 Albany, NY, AP Story

An April 19, 2000 Albany, NY, Associated Press story provides a somewhat different perspective:

Several companies manufacture the chip, which has grown steadily in popularity. California-based Avid Inc. registered 608 pets in 1996, but that grew to 4,414 in 1999, according to company spokesman Mike Tuttle.

"We've sold about 7 million microchips to shelter operators and veterinarians," Tuttle said. "Shelters in big cities like Phoenix, St. Louis and New York City have all been using the chip for several years."⁴⁰[UNQUOTE]

National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA)

An article published on the NAIA Web site points out that the American Kennel Club enrollment includes animals "identified with a chip or tattoos." The article also provides information related to the growth of the microchip system:

But the American Kennel Club has a CAR that can help... This CAR is the Companion Animal Recovery program, AKC's partnership with Schering-Plough Animal Health that installs microchips under the skin and enrolls the chip number in a data base, making it possible to identify any animal and many inanimate possessions with an injection and an enrollment fee. Dubbed "Home Again," the microchips are the size of a grain of rice and have an imbedded number unique to each chip...

Microchips have been available for several years, but until the development of a universal scanner that reads all available chips, many shelters were reluctant to scan incoming pets, offer microchip clinics to the public, or install chips in adopted animals. In addition, stories about the chips moving under the skin after injection were bandied about. Then came two breakthroughs: Schering-Plough and microchip company Destron Fearing introduced a new chip held in place by a bio-glue and in 1996 came up with a universal scanner.

In 1995, AKC became the registrar for the Schering Plough Home Again microchip system. And along with registering animals chipped through the Home Again program, CAR also accepted enrollment of any animal identified with a chip or tattoos. By September 11, 1995, 10,000 animals were enrolled, and the number topped 325,000 by the end of 1998.⁴¹[UNQUOTE]

The American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery (CAR)

An American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery Web page states:

Over one million pet owners are now participating in the AKC-CAR program, which is the largest direct-to-owner database of microchipped pets in the United States.⁴²[UNQUOTE]

Grand Forks Air Force Base's The Leader Online

The June 15, 2001 edition of The Leader Online contains the following numbers:

As of April 1, the AKC Companion Animal Recovery Program has more than 866,000 pets enrolled, and has had 46,729 pets safely recovered and returned home due to the HomeAgain microchip identification system.⁴³[UNQUOTE]

Digital Angel: 2000

A Digital Angel Web site with a 2000 copyright date reports on the number of pets microchipped with its system:

In addition, Digital Angel is:... The worldwide leader in pet recovery with approximately 1 million pets in the U.S...protected by Digital Angel Animal Identification Systems Division patented microchips.⁴⁴[UNQUOTE]

Digital Angel: 2002

A May 8, 2002, article on Bloomberg.com stated:

Randolph K. Geissler, chief executive officer of Digital Angel Corp. (Amex: DOC) was interviewed yesterday on CEOcast.com...

The recorded interview can be accessed at http://www.ceocast.com through May 13, 2002...

Digital Angel chips have been implanted in more than 10 million pets so far during the past eight years...⁴⁵[UNQUOTE]

PetPlace.com: 2001 Article

A 2001 PetPlace.com article: number of registered animals

A 2001 PetPlace.com article details information about the number of registered animals:

Today, more than a million pets are registered with either the American Kennel Club's Companion Animal Recovery system (which uses the HomeAgain system) or American Veterinary Identification Devices. And more than 150,000 lost pets have been reunited with their owners through these systems.⁴⁶[UNQUOTE]

A 2001 PetPlace.com article: microchips AVID and HomeAgain have sold

The article goes on to provide more specific information about the number of microchips AVID and HomeAgain have sold.

To date, AVID has sold several million microchips. According to a spokesperson, a pet is reunited with their owner every 32 minutes. Currently, over 142, 000 lost pets have been returned home...⁴⁷

To date, HomeAgain has sold over 500,000 microchips and over 34,000 pets have been reunited with their owners.⁴⁸

Associated Press: Washington Post: 2002 Article

A February 11, 2002, Washington Post article includes information about the number of animals that have been chipped:

More than 3.5 million pets have been "chipped."⁴⁹

Scripps Howard News Service 2000 Article

A July 10, 2000 story stated that:

Teddi the terrier .. is one of more than 1.6 million pets whose owners have opted for microchips to tag their animals...

While pets with chips constitute a little over 1 percent of the nation's 120 million dogs and cats, more and more owners are taking advantage of the technology a decade after it was introduced.⁵⁰[UNQUOTE]

WorldNetDaily 2000 Article

An August 7, 2000 story stated that:

Approximately 3 million animals nationwide and about 7 million worldwide have been implanted with the chips.⁵¹[UNQUOTE]

Universal Standard for Scanners

A July 10, 2000 Scripps Howard News Service story stated that:

Industry infighting slowed the spread of microchips, but now chip-makers Schering-Plough Animal Health, AVID and InfoPet have established a universal standard for scanners that lets veterinarians, shelter operators or animal-control officers read chips the way a supermarket checker reads bar codes on grocery items.⁵²[UNQUOTE]

This article then provides brief descriptive information about the three Schering-Plough, AVID and InfoPet products:

Schering-Plough Animal Health

'The chips are... a lot easier than animal tattoos that used to identify pets,' says Marta Lewis of the American Kennel Club's Companion Animal Recovery.

"The kennel club has operated its registry around the clock for six years, for the more than 633,000 pets that have received the Schering-Plough HomeAgain chips. Registering... has resulted in the return of 32,168 pets, almost 100 percent recovery for pets lost but registered through AKC."⁵³

"AVID-the American Veterinary Identification Device-registers its FriendChip through a PeTRAC system that also is open around the clock."⁵⁴

"The InfoPet system outside the United States has compatible scanners for Americans who take pets abroad."⁵⁵

A March 15, 2001 Wired News story comments on the current lack of standardization from the perspective of one actual institutional user.

Kathy Jenks, director of Ventura County, CA department of animal regulation indicates that, in practice, standardization has not yet been fully implemented:

But the technology isn't perfect, said Jenks, who tested four different microchips on the office dog before choosing one for use at the shelter.

...Chips made by one manufacturer can't be read by another manufacturer's scanner.⁵⁶[UNQUOTE]

A November 20, 2002 UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) News Release entitled, "Pets Travel Scheme Extended to USA and Canada," addresses the standardization situation from an international perspective:

In the UK and Europe most microchips and scanners comply with ISO Standards. The USA and Canada have different microchips. Owners of animals identified with non-ISO microchips may experience some difficulties in demonstrating that their animal has been microchipped. Such owners are advised to provide their own scanner.⁵⁷[UNQUOTE]

Global in Scope: 50 Countries

Asia: Thailand and Hong Kong: PetPlace.com

Laura Williams, in an article entitled "Microchipping for Your Dog's Safety," writes:

Chips also are becoming popular in other countries. To help stem the huge stray dog population in Thailand, the government there recently launched a campaign to encourage dog owners to implant their four-footed buddies with the chips. And in Hong Kong, it is mandatory to have your dog microchipped.⁵⁸[UNQUOTE]

PetNet: Canada's National Pet Registry

PetNet is a division of Anitech Enterprises Inc. of Markham, Ontario. It is currently the only supplier of the microchip in Canada and runs the only national database of owner and pet information.⁵⁹[UNQUOTE]

The Web site of PetNet, Canada's National Pet Registry

The "Frequently Asked Questions" section of the Web site of PetNet, Canada's National Pet Registry, in response to the question "Can the microchip harm my pet?", states:

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and humane societies across Canada endorse microchipping. Indeed, many humane societies make microchipping mandatory for all adopted pets. In addition to the 400,000 chipped pets in Canada, over 1 million pets are chipped in Europe where countries make it mandatory.⁶⁰[UNQUOTE]

Anitech: PetNet Microchip Identification

Over 400,000 Canadian pets are microchipped and registered with the PetNet database, over 4,000 new pets are added every month, and, microchipping is being included in many municipal by-laws. There are 8 million pets in Canada!⁶¹[UNQUOTE]

European Pet Network, in short EuroPetNet or EPN

Self-described as the "ultimate website to find the owner of an animal," EPN is "a non-profit-making association grouping several animal databanks from various European countries." The aim of the association is:

To give to everyone concerned a tool to find the owner of an animal identified by a microchip and registered in a databank (some animals identified by a tattoo are also registered).[UNQUOTE]

The EPN Website continues:

It will take time to carry out such project and cooperation from a large number of persons, associations and microchip dealers.

4.296.333 microchips numbers from our members are already recorded in EPN today.⁶²[UNQUOTE]

In addition to the Non Official Member, Cyprus, the following Official Members are listed on the EPN Website:

	AT	Austria
	BE	Belgium
	CH	Switzerland
	DE	Germany
	DK	Denmark
	ES	Spain
	GB	United Kingdom
	LU	Luxemberg
	NL	The Netherlands
	NO	Norway
	PL	Poland⁶³

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA

At the bottom of The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA's home page, one finds the American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery logo along with the statement " 'Microchip your Pets!' The Pasadena Humane Society agrees - click to find out why."⁶⁴ In a "Success Overseas" section of its Microchip Web page, The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA states:

Did you know that in Europe, permanent companion animal identification is mandatory? For dozens of years tattoos have been required and now microchips are being used as an easier, more accurate and humane option. Statistics from the English National Dog Warden Association show in 2001 that 73,230 were dogs impounded, 12,966 (18%) returned directly to the owner, 24,391 (33%) claimed by their owner from kennels. This indicates 51% of dogs are being returned to owners (RTO) in England. Overall, the United States has a 14% national RTO rate, and while the Pasadena Humane Society in 2001 had a 27% RTO rate for dogs, we were only able to RTO 2% of all cats.⁶⁵[UNQUOTE]

Europe: Belgium and Luxembourg: idchips.com

"ID Chips-Animal Registration Data: The Belgian & Luxembourger Electronic Identification & Tracking System for Animals: ID Chips: Who We Are" Web site contains the following information:

ID Chips is the non profit Belgian organization which organizes the data management and tracking about the animals which are identified by microchip in Belgium & Luxemburg.

We have been running this service since 1990 continuously.

Our databank has more than 400,000 recorded animals.⁶⁶[UNQUOTE]

Europe: Canada and Europe: PetNet.ca: Microchip Identification

PetNet, Canada's National Pet Registry, in response to the question "Can the microchip harm my pet?" provides the following information on the PetNet.ca Web site in the "Frequently Asked Questions" section:

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and humane societies across Canada endorse microchipping. Indeed, many humane societies make microchipping mandatory for all adopted pets. In addition to the 400,000 chipped pets in Canada, over 1 million pets are chipped in Europe where countries make it mandatory.⁶⁷[UNQUOTE]

Europe: Germany: TASSO e.V.

"Tasso International" Web page

On its "Tasso International" Web page, Tasso e. V., based in Germany, states:

Welcome...to TASSO-Online, Europe's largest institution for pet- and animal-registration. At the moment not every topic is available in English language. So we might give you a short summary of the most important menu-options.

The menu-option REGISTRIERUNG gives you the possibility to register your pet online. Registration is absolutely cost free.

As a[n] animal welfare institution we finance our work by donations. If your animal is registered at TASSO´s central-database you have the safety that your pet can be identified all over Europe in case it gets lost.⁶⁸[UNQUOTE]

"Tasso International" Web page's "REGISTRIERUNG"

Clicking on the "Tasso International" Web page's "REGISTRIERUNG," leads to a registration page, which asks for "Transponder-Nummer", i.e., "Transponder number." The registration page also provides blank spaces in which to enter tattoo numbers for the ear and thigh, both right and left.⁶⁹

"Tasso International" Web page's "TS-Links"

Clicking on the "Tasso International" Web page's "TS-Links," leads to, among other items, a list of four European registration places:

	Italy
	Belgium
	Poland
	Luxembourg⁷⁰

Europe: Luxembourg: CIAD-Central office

The "Table of Contents in CIAD Home Page," in response to the question, "What does the work of the CIAD-Central office consist in?", states:

At the CIAD-central office the animals are registered with the help of their tattoo, ID-chip or a numbered badge and their coordinates which are computerized so that the animal may be identified immediately after being found.⁷¹[UNQUOTE]

Europe: Netherlands: VETAIR

The English version of the Veterinary Animal Identification and Registration, that is, VETAIR, page, entitled, "Electronical Identification of Companion Animals-Microchips for Recognition," contains the following comments:

The purpose of the VETAIR Foundation is international, professional, and safe identification and registration of pet animals.

We microchip because we love them, because we want to know where they are, and because we want to protect them from theft.

Started more than ten years ago, the VETAIR system was the first and for years the only Dutch database for microchipped pet-animals. Now we are the only one to guarantee your privacy.

We are co-founders of and cooperate with our international collegues in Europetnet, the European cooperation between databases.

PLEASE REALISE:

IDENTIFICATION WITHOUT PROPER REGISTRATION IS USELESS!!⁷²[UNQUOTE]

Europe: Poland: TOZ

Polish Society for Protection of Animals: Home Page: English Version

The Polish Society for Protection of Animals has headquarters in Warsaw, while the Polish National Office for Animals' Identification and Computer Registration is sited in Gdansk.⁷³

Polish Society for Protection of Animals: About Us

Following is information related to the Polish Society for Protection of Animals and its subsidiary, The National Office For Animals' Identification And Computer Registration:

The history of the Polish Society for Protection of Animals (TOZ) begins in the second half of the XIX-th century...

Today TOZ developes its initiatives for protection of animals:...

-cooperates with similar societies and institutions (i.e. with the RSPCA in Horsham near London). TOZ is a member of the World Society for Protection of Animals in London (WSPA). It cooperates also with local authorities, government institutions and parliament.

The programme "Shake Your Paws" (identification and computer registration of animals) realizes almost all of the aims of TOZ in Poland.

The programme is being coordinated through the National Office for Animals' Identification and Computer Registration in Gdansk.⁷⁴[UNQUOTE]

Polish Society for Protection of Animals: Links

The "Links" Web page lists the following "Cooperating Databases":

	Belgium	www.idchips.com
	Italy	www.easypet.com
	Germany	www.tiernotruf.org⁷⁵

The "Links" Web page also includes the "The European Database":

www.europetnet.com⁷⁶

The "Links" Web page also includes the sentence, "Our identification programme is being realized with the microchips and devices of AVID," which is followed by two links to Avid-related Web sites:

	www.avidid.com
	www.avidplc.com⁷⁷

Europe: United Kingdom

The Kennel Club

The Kennel Club's PetLog Web page states:

The Kennel Club strongly recommends that all pet owners should have their animals microchipped for identification.

PetLog, the National Pet Identification Scheme, managed by The Kennel Club, in association with the RSPCA and Scottish SPCA, is the largest scheme in the UK and microchips can be 'read' at most Police Stations, veterinary practices, by Dog Wardens and all the major rehoming charities.⁷⁸[UNQUOTE]

UK National German Shepherd Dog Help Line

Following is information drawn from the Web site of the UK National German Shepherd Dog Help Line

The UK National German Shepherd Dog Help Line Web site has the introductory line, "The UK's most comprehensive site of its type."⁷⁹ A summary history of, and rationale for, the UK National German Shepherd Dog Help Line is as follows:

The UK National G.S.D. Help Line was established in 1998 when contact points for information and advice pertaining to the breed were recognized to be lacking. The Help Line is operated by a group of GSD enthusiasts within the UK with the welfare of the breed uppermost in their minds.⁸⁰[UNQUOTE]

Following is information about "Microchip Implantation":

Our microchip implanters will be using the latest Electronic Identification Devices (Trovan) microchips. Established in 1983, these products are sold throughout the world and are manufactured by AEG ~ a member of the Daimler Chrysler Group of companies ~ a major European electronics manufacturer with 100 years experience in the manufacture of quality electronics products. Quality and reliability are assured by the use of the same inspection, testing ISO 9001 process controls that AEG use to produce space and defence products.⁸¹[UNQUOTE]

Microchipping is related to the Pet Passport system.

Micro chipping is required as part of the Pet Passport system for those wishing to take their animals out of the country.⁸²[UNQUOTE]

The "Microchip Implantation" section, published in 2002, includes a statement about "compulsory identification within 5 years":

The Government's Dog Identification Working Party is about to publish a report recommending voluntary and then compulsory identification within 5 years. According to the report a disturbing 17000 dogs were destroyed in the UK last year.⁸³[UNQUOTE]

Europe: United States and Europe: Digital Angel: 2000

A Digital Angel Web site with a 2000 copyright date reports on the number of pets microchipped with its system:

In addition, Digital Angel is: ... The worldwide leader in pet recovery with approximately 1 million pets in the U.S. and over 10 million in Europe protected by Digital Angel Animal Identification Systems Division patented microchips.⁸⁴[UNQUOTE]

Global: More than 50 Countries: menagerie Magazine

Glenn Lisle, in the Ontario, Canada-based menagerie Magazine, produced by the Publishing Division of GRL Communications Inc., writes in a feature article:

If you are considering microchipping your pet, rest assured you'll be in good company.

A wide variety of creatures, from rattlesnakes to rabbits and elephants to chipmunks, have been chipped along with exotic and endangered species both in zoos and in the wild.

The pet ID microchip is used by film stars such as Keiko (the Free Willy Orca) and famous pets including HRH Queen Elizabeth's Corgies.

First marketed in 1991, manufacturers report that more than four million pet ID microchips have been sold to date, in more than 50 countries.⁸⁵[UNQUOTE]

Global: Computerized Tracking System: PETtrac: AVID

AVID, on its Web site, in response to the Frequently Asked Question "What is PETrac?" states:

PETtrac is a global computerized tracking system for companion animals identified with the AVID Microchip. When you become a member, PETtrac can reunite your pets directly with you.⁸⁶[UNQUOTE]

Legally and/or Administratively Required

Asia: China: Hong Kong

Hong Kong: A 1997 relojournal.com article

"John Hollywood, president of Cosmopolitan Canine Carriers in Darien, Connecticut," in a 1997 relojournal.com article provided the following information under the Hong Kong entry in a table entitled, "Document and Quarantine Requirements for Selected Countries":

No quarantine; import permit, distemper and rabies inoculation more than 30 days and less than one year prior to departure; an International Health Certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian and endorsed by a USDA veterinarian in the state capital of origin; and a micro chip implant. (Please note: the only microchip readable in Hong Kong is an Avid microchip.)⁸⁷[UNQUOTE]

"Microchipping for Your Dog's Safety"

Laura Williams, in an article entitled "Microchipping for Your Dog's Safety," writes:

And in Hong Kong, it is mandatory to have your dog microchipped.⁸⁸[UNQUOTE]

Asia: Singapore

The Agri-food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)

The Agri-food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) in a Press Releases section of its Web site has an article entitled, "Microchip Identification of Imported Dogs for Better Disease Prevention: Additional Questions and Answers." The response to question 6, "How will AVA enforce the new requirement for all imported dogs to be identified with a microchip?" reads:

AVA will inform overseas veterinary authorities and local pet handling agents of the new requirement. With effect from 1 May 2001, overseas exporters and owners must microchip their dogs and puppies before exporting them to Singapore. This applies to both commercial consignments as well as personally owned pets. At the same time, overseas veterinary authorities will be requested to verify that dogs are micro-chipped, and to certify the identities of the dogs before they are exported to Singapore. On arrival in Singapore, AVA officers will inspect all imported dogs at the port of entry. The officers will use microchip readers to scan the dogs and read their microchips. The microchips will assist AVA officers to identify each imported dog with its travel documents.⁸⁹[UNQUOTE]

AVA article: "Are there any other areas where compulsory microchipping of dogs is required in Singapore?"

The above AVA article in response to question 11, "Are there any other areas where compulsory microchipping of dogs is required in Singapore?" states:

To protect the public from being bitten, compulsory microchipping is also required for dangerous breeds of dogs such as Pit Bull, Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa and the crosses of these breeds.⁹⁰[UNQUOTE]

Australia: A 1997 relojournal.com article

"John Hollywood, president of Cosmopolitan Canine Carriers in Darien, Connecticut," in a 1997 relojournal.com article provided the following information under the Australia entry in a table entitled, "Document and Quarantine Requirements for Selected Countries":

One to four months quarantine depending on a rabies titre test performed by an official diagnostic laboratory, plus a microchip implant. International Health Certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian and endorsed by a USDA veterinarian in the state capital of origin.⁹¹[UNQUOTE]

The Agri-food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)

The Agri-food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) in a Press Releases section of its Web site has an article entitled, "Microchip Identification of Imported Dogs for Better Disease Prevention: Additional Questions and Answers." The first sentence of the response to question 5, "Do other countries also require microchipping of imported dogs?" reads:

Australia and New Zealand also impose compulsory microchipping for imported dogs.⁹²

Australia: New South Wales (NSW)

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

An Australian Broadcasting Corporation "7:30 report" transcript entitled, "Multimillion-dollar Pet Microchipping System Not Working," includes the following comments:

Maxine McKew: ...So far, it's only compulsory in NSW, while other States have it under consideration...⁹³

Quentin Dempster: Vets and animal welfare groups complain that the database, established for the first time by law in NSW, has major problems...⁹⁴

Quentin Dempster: The Companion Animals Act, in place for nearly 12 months, now requires microchipping and registration for both cats and dogs.⁹⁵

The New South Wales Department of Local Government

The New South Wales (NSW) Department of Local Government authored "The Companion Animals Act 1998, Registering Your Dog, Frequently Asked Questions" paper. Following are selected excerpted portions from this paper.

Brief introductory material includes the comments:

The NSW Government has recently introduced new legislation covering the rights and responsibilities of the owners of companion animals, including cats and dogs.

The new legislation, the Companion Animals Act 1998, replaces the Dog Act 1966. It introduces new registration and identification requirements for cats and dogs and brings in tough new controls on dangerous dogs.⁹⁶[UNQUOTE]

A response to the question, "Do all companion animals have to be microchipped?" in section 1, "Registration and Microchipping," states:

All dogs and ... cats born or who have changed owners since the 1 July 1999 are required to be microchipped and lifetime registered. Dogs already registered under the Dog Act can continue to be registered annually for three years to allow time for everyone to change over to the new system.⁹⁷[UNQUOTE]

A response to the question, "What happens if I don't identify or register my dog or my new cat?" in section 3, "Penalties And Powers," states:

Failure to register or microchip your cat or dog as required by the Act attracts a maximum penalty of $550.⁹⁸[UNQUOTE]

A response to the question, "What can a council officer do to enforce the legislation?" in section 3, "Penalties And Powers," states:

Local councils are the authority responsible for implementing the Companion Animals legislation. Under the legislation councils have a range of responsibilities including planning, service provision, community education and enforcement...

Councils also have a range of powers to deal with major or ongoing problems. These powers include the ability to issue nuisance orders, which require the owner of a dog or cat to stop the animal from causing a particular nuisance. Failure to comply with a nuisance order is an offence...⁹⁹[UNQUOTE]

A response to the question, "If I want to breed from my animal, what should I do?" in section 4, "Buying, Selling and Breeding," states:

However your responsibilities are not over once you have a litter of healthy puppies or kittens and good homes for them to go to. Under the Companion Animals Act, you cannot sell or give away a puppy or kitten without having it permanently identified by microchip. All puppies or kittens need to be microchipped by the age of 12 weeks, but if you sell or give away the animals before this age, you are still responsible for ensuring that they are microchipped before they leave your ownership. A maximum penalty of $550 applies for breaching these provisions.¹⁰⁰[UNQUOTE]

The following information regarding PetNet Microchip Identification indicates that microchipping is being addressed at the municipal level:

Over 400,000 Canadian pets are microchipped and registered with the PetNet database, over 4,000 new pets are added every month, and, microchipping is being included in many municipal by-laws.¹⁰¹[UNQUOTE]

Europe: General

The Web site of PetNet, Canada's National Pet Registry, on the "Frequently Asked Questions" section, indicates, in response to the question "Can the microchip harm my pet?", that there are countries in Europe where it is mandatory to have pets chipped:

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and humane societies across Canada endorse microchipping. Indeed, many humane societies make microchipping mandatory for all adopted pets. In addition to the 400,000 chipped pets in Canada, over 1 million pets are chipped in Europe where countries make it mandatory.¹⁰²[UNQUOTE]

Europe: Belgium

Information about Identification and Registration of Dogs in Belgium," drawn from The Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs material on the web site of the Consulate General in Sydney, Australia, states:

A new regulation went into effect in Belgium on September 1, 1998 concerning the mandatory identification and registration of all dogs on Belgian territory.

All dogs must be identified in one of two ways: 1/ either a tattoo; or, 2/ an electronic chip...

Dogs coming from foreign countries and which were already identified in their country of origin will not have to follow the identification procedure in Belgium as long as the identification system used conforms to the ISO standard. The owner of the animal will just have to register his dog at ABIEC (Belgian Association for Identification and Registration of Dogs).

If the dog coming from abroad does not have any tattoo and if its owner intends to stay more than 6 months on Belgian territory, the owner will have to go to a veterinarian in Belgium in order to identify the animal (by a tattoo or a chip) and ask the veterinarian to do the necessary in order to register the dog at ABIEC.¹⁰³[UNQUOTE]

Europe: European Union

Commission of the European Communities: September 18, 2000: either tattoo or microchip allowed:

The Commission of the European Communities on September 18, 2000, adopted a "Proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation on the animal-health requirements applicable to non-commercial movement of pet animals."

The proposal seeks to harmonise the animal-health requirements and rules applying to checks with regard to the non-commercial movement of pet animals, between the Member States and from third countries.¹⁰⁴{UNQUOTE]

"Explanatory Memorandum" Overview

Measures need to be adopted at Community level to ensure that rules applicable to non-commercial movement of pet animals in the Member States are consistent.

To date, attempts to harmonise the animal-health requirements applicable to non-commercial movement of pet animals have come to grief over the problem of rabies, which is dealt with in widely divergent ways by the Member States.

However, over the last decade the rabies situation has improved spectacularly throughout the Community in the wake of vaccination campaigns targeting fox populations in regions where rabies is endemic.

The number of cases of rabies among household pets (cats and dogs) dropped from 499 in 1991 to 5 in 1998.

This highly favourable development has prompted the United Kingdom authorities to do away with the six-month quarantine they applied hitherto to cats and dogs entering the UK.

An alternative to the quarantine system has been adopted by the United Kingdom on the basis of the conclusions of a group of independent experts and following a public survey that came out overwhelmingly in favour. It is only intended to cover animals from the Member States and ultimately those from certain third countries where rabies does not exist or is under control. It is now accepted that this alternative system provides an equivalent level of safety to quarantine.

Briefly, it involves:

-electronically identifying the animals;

-vaccinating them with an inactivated vaccine;

-checking their immune response to vaccination by titration of antibodies, to be carried out more than six months prior to movement...

This draft Regulation is largely based on the alternative system adopted by the United Kingdom as regards movement to Member States "historically free of rabies".

Vaccination only is required for movement between the Member States other than those referred to in the preceding paragraph. In line with a regional approach, the same rules applies to third countries and territories…that can be treated in the same way as the Community.

At a later stage, the regulations applicable to cats and dogs from third countries should be tightened up and stricter controls applied to such movement.

Since the disease is under control in all Member States, the introduction of animals from regions where rabies is endemic now constitutes the major risk of propagation.¹⁰⁵[UNQUOTE]

Article 3 of the Commission Proposal, referring to cats and dogs, permitted either a tattoo or a microchip:

Animals of the species listed in Annex I, Part A, shall be regarded as identified where they bear:

(a) either a clearly readable tattoo, or

(b) an electronic identification system (transponder)...¹⁰⁶[UNQUOTE]

European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy: April 10, 2001: only microchip after 8 years transitional period

A "Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation on the animal-health requirements applicable to non-commercial movement of pet animals" of the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health contains, among other things, "Procedural Page" information, and an amendment of Article 3 regarding method of identification of animals.

Procedural Page Information

By letter of 19 September 2000 the Commission submitted to Parliament ... the proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation on the animal-health requirements applicable to non-commercial movement of pet animals...

At the sitting of 6 October 2000 the President of Parliament announced that she had referred this proposal to the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy as the committee responsible...

The committee considered the Commission proposal and draft report at its meetings of 27 February and 10 April 2001.

At the last meeting it adopted the draft legislative resolution with 1 abstention.¹⁰⁷[UNQUOTE]

Amendment of Article 3 regarding Animal Identification: microchip only

Amendment 6, addressing Article 3, requires a transition from either tattoos or microchip identification to microchip only.

3. During an 8-year transitional period, beginning from the entry into force of this regulation, animals of the species listed in Annex I, Part A, shall be regarded as identified where they bear:

(a) either a clearly readable tattoo, or

(b) an electronic identification system (transponder)...

Those Member States who require animals entering their territory other than into quarantine to be identified [by option (b)] may continue to do so during the transitional period.

After the transitional period mentioned above only option (b) shall be accepted as the means of identification of an animal.

Justification

With the potential for tattoos to be difficult to read, to be altered and indeed fade over time, it would be more effective for animals to be microchipped as a means of identification. Eight years is a sufficient period for Member States to introduce a microchip system for all pet animals involved in Annex I Part A, being a major part of their total lifespan.¹⁰⁸[UNQUOTE]

European Parliament: May 3, 2001: only microchip after 8 years transitional period

The European Parliament, at first reading on May 3, 2001 adopted the essence of the position adopted by its Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer with regard to accepting only "an electronic identification system (transponder)" after an eight-year transitional period.

During an eight-year transitional period, beginning from the entry into force of this Regulation, animals of the species listed in Annex I, Part A, shall be regarded as identified where they bear:

(a) either a clearly readable tattoo, or

(b) an electronic identification system (transponder).

In the case referred to in (b), the transponder must comply with Standard ISO 11784 and Annex A to Standard ISO 11785.

Whatever form the animal identification system takes, provision must also be made for the indication of details identifying the name and address of the animal's owner.

Member States which require animals entering their territory, other than into quarantine, to be identified by option (b) may continue to do so during the transitional period.

After the transitional period, only option (b) shall be accepted as the means of identifying an animal.¹⁰⁹[UNQUOTE]

Commission of the European Communities: June 21, 2001: only microchip after 8 years transitional period

The Commission presented an amended proposal on June 21, 2001 that incorporated the viewpoint of the European Parliament's May 3, 2001 position with regard to accepting only "an electronic identification system (transponder)" after an eight-year transitional period. Material from the "Explanatory Memorandum" highlights this matter:

Most of the modifications are amendments for clarification or introducing obligations on the Commission or on the Member States with no serious incidence on the general objective of the proposal.

The amendment of article 3 is more significant as after a transitional period of 8 years the tattoo will not be recognised for identification of cats and dogs and electronic identification will be the only accepted method.

This amendment is likely to cause some difficulties in a few Member States where tattooing is still practised. Nevertheless it has been considered that the 8 years transitional period should allow a smooth switch to the new technology of the microchip which is more acceptable in term of welfare and does not rises any technical problem.¹¹⁰[UNQUOTE]

Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council: May 26, 2003: only microchip after 8 years transitional period

The European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 on May 26, 2003. The adopted Regulation states that after an eight-year transitional period, only "an electronic identification system (transponder)...shall be accepted as the means of identifying an animal."

General provisions

This Regulation lays down the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals and the rules applying to checks on such movement.

This Regulation applies to the movement between Member States or from third countries of pet animals of the species listed in Annex I...

1. During an eight-year transitional period starting from the entry into force of this Regulation, animals of the species listed in parts A and B of Annex I shall be regarded as identified where they bear:

(a) either a clearly readable tattoo; or

(b) an electronic identification system (transponder).

In the case referred to in point (b) of the preceding subparagraph, where the transponder does not comply with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785, the owner or the natural person responsible for the pet animal on behalf of the owner must provide the means necessary for reading the transponder at the time of any inspection.

2. Whatever form the animal identification system takes, provision shall also be made for the indication of details identifying the name and address of the animal's owner.

3. Member States which require animals entering their territory, otherwise than into quarantine, to be identified in accordance with point (b) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 may continue to do so during the transitional period.

4. After the transitional period, only the method referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 shall be accepted as the means of identifying an animal.¹¹¹[UNQUOTE]

Europe: United Kingdom

Abbreviations MAFF and DEFRA

The use of either the abbreviation MAFF or DEFRA in the discussion of pet microchipping and the United Kingdom is explained by the following sentence:

The functions of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have been taken over by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who have a new website.¹¹²[UNQUOTE]

The Agri-food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)

The Agri-food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) in a Press Releases section of its Web site has an article entitled, "Microchip Identification of Imported Dogs for Better Disease Prevention: Additional Questions and Answers."

The response to question 5, "Do other countries also require microchipping of imported dogs?" reads in part:

The UK uses microchipping as a means to identify dogs and cats under their Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) whereby such pets that are properly identified, vaccinated and blood tested may be imported without the need for quarantine.¹¹³[UNQUOTE]

British Embassy, Copenhagen, Denmark

The Web site of the British Embassy, Copenhagen, Denmark, states:

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) allows pet cats and dogs, from certain countries, including Denmark, to enter the UK without quarantine provided they meet certain rules.

To qualify under the Scheme, pets must enter the UK on an approved route with an approved transport company. Those companies will check microchips and the required documentation to ensure that the necessary conditions have been fulfilled...

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, DEFRA has approved the operating plans of all these companies, subject to scrutiny of the arrangements which they have put into place...

The conditions which your pet will need to meet are:

First microchipping with an electronic "chip" which meets ISO standards...

Further advice (in English) may be obtained from the British DEFRA's PETS Helpline...¹¹⁴[UNQUOTE]

PetPlanet describes itself as "the leading UK dogs cats pets website and online pets products shop."¹¹⁵ PetPlanet provides a "Welcome To Britain: A European Dog (and Cat)'s Guide to Visiting Britain" Web page with the following information:

However, dogs and cats, like their owners, have to carry 'passports' to enter Britain. These are more complicated than a human's passport, and consist of...

• A 'chip' implanted under the skin, showing your animal's unique number. Although tattoos are legal in France, they are not sufficient for Britain...

Then you MUST book your animal's ticket with one of the ferry companies or airline that has the licence from our Ministry to transport animals into Britain under the Pet Travel Scheme. Their officials have been trained to check the paperwork and use the scanner device to check the animal's 'chip' number...¹¹⁶[UNQUOTE]

IgluVillas is a London based entity that provides "holiday booking," primarily for Europe, for "holiday properties."

IgluVillas "Core Product" is described as follows: "IgluVillas aims to have the largest selection of villas and holiday homes in Europe." On a "Bookings & Enquiries" Web site page, one is informed in the "Pets Abroad" section that, "You can now take your pooch across the channel without the compulsory 6 months of quarantine. Click here for all you need to know about pet passports." The linked "Pet Passports" page states:

IgluVillas "Core Product" is described as follows: "IgluVillas aims to have the largest selection of villas and holiday homes in Europe."¹¹⁷ On a "Bookings & Enquiries" Web site page, one is informed in the "Pets Abroad" section that, "You can now take your pooch across the channel without the compulsory 6 months of quarantine. Click here for all you need to know about pet passports."¹¹⁸ The linked "Pet Passports" page states:

To be eligible for the passport scheme, and exempt from quarantine, the pet has to undergo various tests and procedures...

Your pet must be taken to a recognized Veterinary practice for:

• Vaccination

• Inserting an identification chip - tattoos not accepted...

The procedures are microchipping, vaccination against rabies, blood test after vaccination at a MAFF recognised laboratory and a health certificate which states that everything else has been carried out.

The microchip used must be of ISO standard, your vet can tell you if your pet has been chipped with this ISO standard chip or not...

The order of these procedures must be microchip first, then vaccinate, then blood test. The microchip numbers must be on the vaccination and blood test certificates, along with the date and the authorised veterinary signatures. The microchip number is important on the paperwork as it connects the pet with the certificates when the pet is presented and checked at the point of entry/exit.¹¹⁹[UNQUOTE]

Moggies Web Site

A "Pet Passports (United Kingdom)" page from the Moggies Web Site, "home of the Online Cat Guide,"¹²⁰ provides information about the cost of quarantine for pets:

...The animals' arrival marks the easing of anti-rabies controls, which separate owners from their animals at a cost of between £1,500 and £2,000 a time.

From February 28th pets can go to Europe without going through quarantine.

At MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, etc) Nick Brown is fed up with the French tweaking his nose over British Beef. Deciding he needs positive publicity, he gave pet owners good news by lifting quarantine from February 28th 2000 for pets going to and from certain countries in Europe...

Why are MAFF so concerned about Rabies?

We all should be. Once you have caught rabies, probably from a bite or saliva from an animal incubating rabies, there is no cure. You die a horrible death. However, dogs and cats properly vaccinated and blood-tested should be immune from catching and passing on the disease.

So what do I do if I want to take my dog/cat abroad?

Visit a recognised Veterinary practice for:

* Insert identification chip (tattoos not accepted)

* Blood sample taken from animal 30 days after vaccination

If OK the Vet will sign papers and that is the pet's "passport."¹²¹[UNQUOTE]

U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service

The financial incentive for microchipping a pet and participating in the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) can be further observed in material from the U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service:

New rules established by the British government will let some U.S. service members and Department of Defense employees avoid the standard six-month quarantine for pets when they arrive in the United Kingdom.

The new rules, which fall under a pilot program called the "Pet Travel Scheme," allow pet owners to bypass the country's quarantine law and save the related costs, provided they meet the strict requirements. The program is set to begin in April 1, 2000.

The estimated cost of complying with the PETS program is about $340.00 per pet. However, pet quarantine costs average $2,500.00 per pet.

In order to qualify for the PETS program:

-- Pet owners must be arriving to the United Kingdom from an authorized country...

-- The plan only applies to cats and dogs. The pets must have lived in an authorized country at least six months before their arrival in the United Kingdom.

-- Pets must arrive via specific sea, air and rail routes to the United Kingdom...

-- Pets must have an identification microchip implant. After receiving the implant, pets must also be vaccinated for rabies with an inactivated vaccine. Regular rabies booster vaccinations must be administered...¹²²[UNQUOTE]

The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA): USA and Canada

A "What's New?" section continued under "More" from the "Bringing Pets to Britain" home page of The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Web site provides information about the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) as it relates both to the United States and Canada, in general, and the U.S. military, specifically:

Further to recent press speculation on the USA and Canada joining the Pet Travel Scheme, the position remains unchanged. The Government is examining two recent reports assessing the risk of rabies and other diseases being imported if the Scheme was extended to North America and an announcement will be made in due course. Dogs and cats coming to the UK from the USA and Canada still need to be licensed into quarantine on arrival.

23 April 2002...

New laboratory: VETCOM Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory, Ft Sam Houston, USA- accepts samples taken from US Military Personnel pets only.

We have been advised that the new laboratory in the USA (see 23 April) accepts blood samples taken from pets belonging only to US Military Personnel and their dependants - not from pets owned by general public.¹²³