It is one of the first things you need to take care of when you welcome a new dog into your family: chipping and registering your furry companion. In the Netherlands, there are strict rules about chipping dogs, designed to ensure animal welfare and prevent fraud. But what are actually the costs of this procedure?
Dog required to be chipped in the Netherlands
According to Dutch law, a dog must be microchipped and registered within 7 weeks of birth. In addition, a European animal passport is mandatory. If you import a dog, it must be registered within 2 weeks of arrival, with a chip already placed and a passport (or, if outside the EU, a health certificate) before entering the Netherlands.
As of November 1, 2021, having a European animal passport will be mandatory for dogs acquired from that date. If you had your dog before this date, it will only need a passport if it travels abroad or changes owners.
When you buy a dog, it is crucial to verify that it is microchipped and registered, and that it has a passport. This can be verified by a veterinarian. In fact, it is a criminal offense to buy a dog that is not properly registered and not microchipped or does not have a passport. After the purchase, you must register your new addition to the registration portal as the new owner, while the previous owner must also notify the transfer of ownership.
Cost of getting dog chipped
Chipping a dog is usually paid for by the breeder or the shelter where the dog came from. However, if you are responsible for the chipping yourself, such as when importing from abroad, the cost is usually around €20 for the chip itself, plus your veterinarian’s consultation fee.
Changing the registration information to your name usually has a cost of around €6.50, although this amount can vary depending on the specific registration portal used.
These rules and costs are not just bureaucratic hurdles. They serve a crucial purpose: to prevent animal suffering by reducing fraudulent practices in the dog trade. Malafide breeders and traders are often exposed thanks to the chip and registration system, allowing them to be held accountable for their actions.
As responsible dog owners, it is our duty to ensure that our beloved four-legged friends are correctly identified and registered. This contributes not only to the safety and well-being of our pets, but also to preventing abuses in the dog trade.
Saving on the cost of getting a dog chipped
Purchasing puppy insurance often requires that your dog be microchipped. This is a standard practice to ensure that pets can be more easily identified and recovered in case of loss.
If you choose to have your dog chipped at the vet and you have insurance through OHRA, you may be eligible for reimbursement of the cost of the chip and its placement. This reimbursement may be up to 80% of the cost, depending on the specific terms of your insurance policy. It is always advisable to check the details of your dog insurance policy to understand exactly what costs are covered and what fees apply.
With Inshared dog insurance, the rule is that you must have the chip placed within 2 weeks of the insurance effective date. This means that once you take out puppy insurance, you must have the chip implanted in your dog within two weeks.
With Figo Pet dog insurance, chipping your pet is also covered as part of their insurance coverage. With this, it is also not mandatory to have a chip placed before taking out dog insurance.
Dog registration
When a dog is microchipped by a veterinarian, the registration process is usually performed immediately after it is chipped. Here is a general description of how the registration process typically goes:
- Chipping: The veterinarian injects a microchip, the size of a grain of rice, under the dog’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. This chip contains a unique identification number linked to the dog.
- Registration: After microchipping, the veterinarian or an employee of the veterinary practice will ask the owner to provide the necessary information to register the dog. This usually includes personal information about the owner, such as name, address and contact information, as well as information about the dog, such as name, breed, sex, age and any special characteristics.
- Fill out registration form: The owner will need to fill out a registration form with all required information. This can be done either on paper or electronically, depending on the system used by the veterinary practice.
- Processing the registration: Once the registration form is completed, the veterinarian or an employee of the practice will process this information and register the dog in the appropriate database. In the Netherlands, for example, this is done through the Dutch Companion Animal Database (NDG) and in Belgium through the central DogID database.
- Confirmation of registration: After successful registration, the owner usually receives a confirmation of registration, often in the form of a certificate or other document. This document usually contains the dog’s unique chip number, as well as the owner’s details and any other relevant information.
- Updating information: It is important to ensure that the dog’s registration information remains up-to-date. If there are any changes in the owner’s personal information or in the dog’s information, such as moving, change of owner or change of contact information, this should be updated in the registration database. This can usually be done online through the registration portal of the relevant database.
All in all, the registration process is a relatively simple procedure that is essential for identifying and recovering your dog in case of a loss. It ensures that your beloved pet can always be safely and returned to you as the owner.
The process of chipping cats is much the same. As with dogs, a veterinarian can implant a microchip under a cat’s skin, giving the animal a unique identification number.
Dog required to be chipped in Belgium
In Belgium, there are strict rules regarding the chipping and registration of dogs. Every dog, without exception, must be compulsorily chipped and registered in the central DogID database. This applies to all dogs sold or given away, regardless of their age. Even dogs older than 8 weeks and foreign dogs that will stay in Belgium for at least 6 months must be chipped and registered.
Since July 2011, the rules have become even stricter. Traveling abroad with your dog is only possible if he is microchipped. This means that even if you have no plans to travel abroad, it is still crucial to have your dog chipped and registered.
Although the cost of chipping a dog varies depending on the veterinarian and specific circumstances, it is an investment in the health and safety of your beloved pet. Chipping and registering your dog is not only an obligation, but also an act of responsibility and caring as a pet owner in the Netherlands & Belgium.
