|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
Rabies, Licensing, Microchip Information
 |
Letter from
the County of San Diego
Department
of Animal Services
5480 Gaines Street, San
Diego CA 92110-2687
To Governor Animal
Clinic, March
9, 2006
Revised County Dog License
Application
As you know, dogs four months of age and older are required to be
currently vaccinated against rabies and licensed. A dog’s license
tag, which must be securely fastened to the dog’s collar or harness
and worn by the dog at all times, provides a uniform system of
external identification, as well as a visible means of ensuring
that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies.
Along with the external identification provided
by a dog license tag, the internal identification afforded by a
microchip can enhance the safety and security of pets and peace of
mind for their owners. To promote pet identification and facilitate
our ability to quickly identify lost pets and reunite them with
their owners, the revised County of San Diego Dog License
Application now includes two new fields for the entry of a dog’s
“Microchip #” and the applicable microchip
“Manufacturer“.
Please encourage your clients to take advantage
of this safe, simple and permanent form of pet identification, and
let them know that the Department can note the microchip number in
our records, and contact them promptly if their pet is ever brought
to the animal shelter-with or without external
identification.
The Department is in the process of providing
every local veterinary facility with the newly revised County of
San Diego Dog License Application forms. When you receive the new
forms, we ask that you discard your remaining supply of
applications, and begin using the revised forms immediately.
We appreciate your efforts in promoting animal
health and safety.
Sincerely,
Dawn Danielson, R.V.T.
Director
|
 |
 |
|
How to Obtain a License
- The owner of every dog over the age of four
months is required by law to ensure that his or her pet is
currently vaccinated against rabies (SDCC Section 62.610) and
licensed (SDCC Section 62.620[a]). (Dog owners who fail to
comply with rabies vaccination or licensing requirements are
subject to costly penalties.)
- Rabies vaccination of dogs (a prerequisite for
licensing) has been highly effective as an animal and public health
measure, and is especially important in areas like ours where the
potential threat of exposure to rabies from wildlife is a
significant concern. The primary or first rabies vaccination
is good for one year, and the second vaccination given one-year
later, and subsequent (or booster) vaccinations are valid for three
years.
- A dog’s license tag, which must be securely
fastened to the dog’s collar or harness and worn by the dog at all
times (SDCC Section 62.620[e]), provides a uniform system of
identification, as well as a visible means of ensuring that the
animal has been vaccinated against rabies.
- Finders of licensed dogs can access owner
information 24 hours per day, 365 days per year by telephone and
website. Lost dogs that are found wearing license tags can be
quickly reunited with their owners, while dogs lost without
external identification may be kept by their finder or brought to
an animal shelter long after the owner may have given up searching
for it.
- If you’ve recently moved to San Diego County and
your dog is currently licensed elsewhere, you may be able to
transfer that license for a nominal fee for the duration of the
rabies vaccine, if the vaccine has been approved for use in
California.
To license your dog online, or to print out a license application form, go to;
http://www.sddac.com/online_licensing.asp
Complete with instructions, and easy to do!
Cats
A license is not required for cats in San Diego, with the exception of the
City of Coronado.
The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA recommends microchip identification,
having a collar and ID tag, and keeping cats indoors.
Indoor
cats should receive rabies vaccinations every three years.
|
Why would an owner want to microchip their
pet?
A dog should always wear his or her license tag.
However, collars or I.D. tags can become detached leaving the pet
without any visible identification. A microchip is a permanent
device that enables shelter personnel to locate a pet's owner
should the pet become lost.
Why would an owner want to microchip their pet
that never gets out of the house or yard?
Many animals that live exclusively in the house
or yard can still become lost. A family member or visitor can
inadvertently allow a pet to escape through an open door or gate.
In other cases, pets may seek safety from the noise associated with
fireworks or thunderstorms. The recent tragedy of Hurricane Katrina
is a perfect example of why pets should be microchipped. Owners
should be prepared and ensure their pets can be identified.
How long does the microchip last?
Microchips will remain active for the life of the
animal.
Can an owner's address information be updated
if he or she moves?
Yes. This is extremely important. The owner
should contact the Department and Microchip Company to ensure that
both databases contain current information.
|
|
|
|
Letter reprinted with
permission by the County of San Diego, Animal Serivces
See our "Microchip For Safety" page
for detailed microchip information
|
 |
www.petmicrochiplookup.org
FAQs for AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool
Why was this tool created?
Combined with a collar and current name tag, a microchip increases
the likelihood of a lost pet being safely reunited with its owner.
However, even with a microchip scanner, identifying the correct pet
recovery registry to contact can be challenging because microchip
manufacturers and pet recovery services use different microchip
technology and databases.
To alleviate the guesswork for veterinary hospitals, animal control
facilities and shelter staff members, the American Animal Hospital
Association (AAHA) created the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup
Tool. The tool is possible through an unprecedented collaboration
between the participating microchipping and pet recovery companies.
Although the launch of this tool represents a ground-breaking
achievement for those working to reunite lost pets with their owners,
AAHA acknowledges that the tool is a work in progress and will
periodically review its functionality.
How does it work?
The AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool works by checking the
databases of participating pet recovery services to determine which has
registration information available for a microchip. Once a microchip
identification number is entered into the tool, within seconds a list of
all the registries with microchip registration information available,
along with the registries’ contact information, will appear in
chronological order; the registry with the most recent update appears
first. If the microchip has not been registered with any participating
pet recovery service, the result returned will default to the
microchip’s manufacturer or distributor. While the tool will not return
the pet owner information contained in the registries’ databases, it
will identify which registries should be contacted when a lost pet is
scanned and a microchip is found.
If I am a pet owner and don’t see my pet’s microchip information, whom should I contact?
Since the tool works by checking the databases of participating pet
recovery services to determine which has registration information
available for a microchip, pet owners should contact their pet recovery
service. The American Animal Hospital Association will be unable to
assist pet owners with their microchip registration and/or problems.
Why doesn’t the tool show the pet owner’s information?
To protect the privacy of pet owners, the tool will display all the
registries with microchip registration information available, along
with the registries’ contact information. The information will appear in
chronological order; the registry with the most recent update appears
first. Additionally, the pet recovery services have trained experts,
resources and infrastructure to efficiently and effectively contact the
owners of lost pet.
Which countries does this tool serve?
Microchip technology and regulations can vary by countries. The AAHA
Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool was created to primarily serve chips
distributed in the United States.
Once at the website, enter the microchip ID and click
"Submit". The results are returned with the most recent entry
displaying first. Therefore, start by calling the company listed first in the
"enrolled with" box. If you are unable to get the correct information
from the top record, work your way down the list.
www.petmicrochiplookup.org
|
|
|
 |
| |
 |
|
 |
|
