Pet dogs in Kochi to be fitted with microchips

Kochi, March 5: The corporation of Kochi has taken an initiative to fit all pet dogs of the city with microchips in order to begin a licensing system for the animals, an ANI News report said.

The initiative was launched at the Kochi Corporation office by the city's mayor, Saumini Jain, along with other civic body officials. The chip will include details of the pet, including their ownsership, age, dates of vaccination and others. The device can be read using a hand-held scanner.

The Kochi civic authorities said separate software and database will be maintained and all pet dogs living within the city limits will be brought under the programme's cover in phases.

The first phase will see 500 dogs getting microchipped and a fee of Rs 100 will be charged from per pet's owner.

The city of Kochi has an estimated pet dog population of 12,000.

Oneindia News