PROTECTION. The Office of the City Veterinarian is pushing for permanent and tamper-proof electronic documentation of pets such as dogs and cats in Iloilo City using microchip implants. Veterinarian IV Dr. Suzette Leal, said on Wednesday (Nov. 16, 2022), it was proposed as part of the animal disaster preparedness and rescue under the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Plan. (PNA photo by PGLena)
ILOILO CITY – The city government here, heeding the proposal of the Office of the City Veterinarian, is pushing for permanent and tamper-proof electronic documentation on pets such as dogs and cats with the use of microchip implant.
In an interview on Wednesday, Veterinarian IV, Dr. Suzette Leal said the proposal was part of the animal disaster preparedness and rescue under the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) Plan.
“We proposed this Pet Identification and Unified Data Storage with Microchip System and Mobile Application for our Animal Disaster Preparedness and Rescue. The objective of our proposal is to establish a permanent tamper-proof digital identification with mobile application and data storage system,” she said.
It will be piloted in seven flood-prone barangays with the most dog population in their respective district namely Barangays Sambag in Jaro district, Calahunan in Mandurriao, Jereos, La Paz, Bo. Obrero in Lapuz, Compania Central from Molo, Sta. Cruz in Arevalo and Rizal Estanzuela in City Proper.
For the seven barangays the target population is 1,374 pets. However, the number may change once the plan will be implemented.
“The microchip is just very small, like grain of rice, and will be implanted subcutaneously under the skin in between the shoulder blade of animals,” Leal said.
She added that it was observed that pets were left behind in times of disaster.
It would be easier to identify their owners just by scanning the chip once they are found.
The chip contains information about the owners and pets.
The microchip will also make it easy to determine if the pet has rabies vaccination.
Leal said one prerequisite to be able to have the implant is that the pet should have a rabies vaccination.
The proposal has been approved by the CDRRM Council and they are just waiting for a go signal for its implementation, she added. (PNA)
