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Jakarta Post

Jakarta’s dogs get microchip identification

Puppy love: A microchip is implanted into a dog during the commemoration of World Rabies Day at Vodka and Latte in Kemang, South Jakarta, on Saturday

Gisela Swaragita (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, October 8, 2018

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Jakarta’s dogs get microchip identification

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uppy love: A microchip is implanted into a dog during the commemoration of World Rabies Day at Vodka and Latte in Kemang, South Jakarta, on Saturday. The microchip acts as the dog’s legal ID.(Courtesy of the Jakarta Animal Aid Network)

Over a hundred pet dogs were implanted with microchip IDs at a dog-care establishment, Vodka and Latte in Kemang, South Jakarta, on Saturday morning to commemorate World Rabies Day that fell on Sept. 28.

The event was jointly initiated by animal rights NGO the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) and the Jakarta Food, Marine and Agriculture Resilience Agency (KPKP).

According to Karin Franken, the founder of JAAN, implanting microchips in domestic animals was imperative to give legal identities to the animals.

“The vets insert microchips into the dogs’ necks. Each microchip contains the dog’s data such as their name, age, vaccine status, as well as the owners’ name and address,” Karin told The Jakarta Post.

She said the microchips were only the size of a grain of rice and that the implantation process did not hurt the animal.

“After the implant, the dogs are photographed and then we immediately print their ID cards,” she said. The dogs’ data is stored in the Jakarta administration’s database.

“So, just like people, our dogs can have their own legal IDs,” she said.

Karin compared the microchips to human fingerprints, which can be scanned and referred to a database. The microchip will provide strong legal evidence to prove ownership if the animal is stolen. This way, pet thieves can be legally charged.

“JAAN always implants microchips in the wild animals we rescue. One day, we got a report that one of the brahminy kites that we had returned to the wild had been captured by a poacher. We went to the poacher’s residence, scanned the bird for the microchip, and claimed back the kite,” she said.

Karin said installing microchips was a good step forward for Jakarta pet owners to be more responsible with their animals.

“Pet owners in Europe, America and even Saudi Arabia are already obliged by the law to implant microchips in their animals. Jakarta is following suit by making it obligatory next year,” she said.

Sri Hartati, head of breeding and animal health at the KPKP, said Gubernatorial Decree No. 199/2016 on the control of rabies transmitter animals regulated that every pet owner, especially of animals prone to transmitting rabies such as dogs, cats and monkeys, were obliged to implant microchip IDs into their domestic animals. The public was informed of the decree in 2017 and 2018 ahead of its enforcement next year.

“We want to have more accurate data on Jakarta’s dogs as most rabies cases have occurred from dog bites. Our concern is more on rabies control,” Sri said.

She added that since 2004, Jakarta had actually been declared a rabies-free zone. “Through these efforts, we want to keep the number at zero,” she said.

According to Sri, the city has provided 500 free microchips for Jakarta’s dogs. During Saturday’s event, the KPKP gave away 100 free microchips, while JAAN offered a 50 percent discount for 37 microchips from animal clinics in Jakarta. The full price for microchip implantation ranges from Rp 350,000 (US$23) to Rp 450,000.

Jakarta’s dog owners can implant the microchips at large veterinary hospitals in the city, and obtain the ID cards from the KPKP.

Mira, 40, a resident of Ciganjur, South Jakarta, was one of the dog owners to receive a free microchip implantation for her pet, a 6-month-old shih tzu named Giggle.

“I don’t really understand the program or how this microchip helps us,” she said, laughing, “But I believe that it will be beneficial anyway. And also, I heard that this would be obligatory next year, so why not.”

Another dog owner, Radit, 20, a resident of Pancoran, South Jakarta, brought a 10-month old Alaskan malamute and a 5-month-old rescued mongrel to the event. He received a 50 percent discount for his malamute’s microchip.

“The microchip makes me feel safer with the malamute, just in case she runs away,” Radit said.

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