Legal obligations for pets
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Are you aware of the legal obligations for your pets? We talk a lot about the obligations for dogs, without giving much thought to cats. Here we will go through everything mandatory to avoid shocks and problems.
Note: all of the information in this post refers to animals who reside in the Valencian Community.
Let’s start with identification, which nowadays is done with the famous “microchip“. “What is the microchip?”, a frequent question with a simple answer: the microchip also known as a transponder is a small electronic device that is implanted under your pet’s skin, normally on the left side of their neck. It is roughly the size of a grain of rice and is only placed once in the lifetime of the animal. This microchip stores a unique numberIt is worth noting that it only stores a unique number, which must be registered with your details in the database of the Autonomous Community where you reside (RIVIA in the Valencian Community).
Identification is mandatory for all dogs older than 3 months, regardless of their size, breed, character, etc… It is optional but recommended to identify cats, as it makes returning them home enormously easier in case they are lost.
Then we have the passport, mandatory for all identified pets as this is the document which relates the pet’s microchip number to their details and vaccination records. The passport is an official document and as such should only be filled out by a qualified veterinarian, who will sign and stamp all entries they make.
Lastly we have the rabies vaccination, mandatory in all dogs, cats and ferrets. The first dose should be administered between 3 and 4 months of age, giving a booster dose annually for the lifetime of the animal.
In summary, there are different obligations for dogs, cats and ferrets. All require a rabies vaccination, and only dogs are required to be microchipped and to have a passport, although it is recommended in cats too.