General News
19 January, 2025
Council to offer microchipping in-house
Wandering cats and dogs impounded by Horsham Rural City Council will no longer be transported to a local vet practice for microchipping before being released.
Council resolved on Monday to move the identification service in-house.
On the recommendation of director of communities and place Kevin O'Brien, councillors voted unanimously to have a council employee perform future implantations.
"This is an innovation by the community safety unit," Mr O'Brien told council.
"Horsham Rural City Council holds a source number, and this would be associated with all implanted microchip application forms, therefore not adding the cost to the animal owner of obtaining their own source number.
"The community safety co-ordinator is an authorised implanter and has obtained the required qualifications and certification under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 to implant microchips in dogs and cats in Victoria."
Mr O'Brien said the initiative would not only speed up the return of impounded domestic animals to their owners but also reduce the cost associated with microchipping previously unidentified and unregistered pets.
The fee for the new service has been set at a flat rate of $45 per animal.
Previously, an owner wanting to have their unchipped cat or dog released from the pound was charged $33 per day for accommodation until a local veterinarian was available to perform the procedure in their own practice.
The wait could take up to seven days, depending on the veterinarian's schedule, and the two supplier practices charged either $88.85 or $98.85 per implant.