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16/12/2014
Changes To Dog Licensing Unveiled
Changes to dog licensing regulations in Northern Ireland are to come into effect from 1 January 2015, it has been announced.
The changes, introduced under the Dogs (Licensing and Identification) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, means that microchipping will now become the only official method of identifying dogs in NI.
The coloured licence tags which are issued by local councils are to be discontinued.
Dog owners must still make sure their contact details on the microchip database are up-to-date, as well as ensuring their details, such as a name and address, are written on the dog's collar or a tag attached to it.
Unveiling the changes, Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "Microchipping of your dog is a compulsory part of dog licensing and following consultation with council chief executives, it was agreed to discontinue with the coloured tag, issued with a dog licence or upon licence renewal.
"Dog owners must still ensure that their name and address is inscribed on the dog's collar or on a plate or badge attached to it. This requirement remains in place.
"These measures are to ensure responsible dog ownership and so that you are quickly reunited with your dog should it go missing."
To assist with the microchip details requirement, the minister added that the charity Dogs Trust, in conjunction with local councils, will be launching a campaign to assist dog owners to update their contact details on microchip databases for free.
Further details of this will be confirmed in the new year.
(JP/CD)
The changes, introduced under the Dogs (Licensing and Identification) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, means that microchipping will now become the only official method of identifying dogs in NI.
The coloured licence tags which are issued by local councils are to be discontinued.
Dog owners must still make sure their contact details on the microchip database are up-to-date, as well as ensuring their details, such as a name and address, are written on the dog's collar or a tag attached to it.
Unveiling the changes, Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "Microchipping of your dog is a compulsory part of dog licensing and following consultation with council chief executives, it was agreed to discontinue with the coloured tag, issued with a dog licence or upon licence renewal.
"Dog owners must still ensure that their name and address is inscribed on the dog's collar or on a plate or badge attached to it. This requirement remains in place.
"These measures are to ensure responsible dog ownership and so that you are quickly reunited with your dog should it go missing."
To assist with the microchip details requirement, the minister added that the charity Dogs Trust, in conjunction with local councils, will be launching a campaign to assist dog owners to update their contact details on microchip databases for free.
Further details of this will be confirmed in the new year.
(JP/CD)
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