Identification of docked dogs4
1
For the purposes of section 6(10)(b) of the Act a dog must be identified in accordance with this regulation.
2
The dog must be microchipped by a competent person working in the same practice within which paragraph 2 of a certificate in the form prescribed in the Schedule was completed in respect of that dog.
3
The dog may only be microchipped after the owner, or a person whom the competent person who is to carry out the microchipping reasonably believes to be representing the owner, has made a signed and dated statement in paragraph 3 of a certificate in the form prescribed in the Schedule.
4
The competent person who carries out the microchipping must certify that fact in paragraph 4 of a certificate in the form prescribed in the Schedule.
5
Where a veterinary practice ceases to operate after the docking of a dog’s tail, the owner of the dog may take the dog to a different veterinary practice to have the microchipping procedure carried out and a competent person at that veterinary practice must record the reason in paragraph 4 of the certificate in the form prescribed in the Schedule.
6
For the purpose of these Regulations—
a
“competent person” means a veterinary surgeon or person who has received instruction on how to implant a microchip.
b
“microchipped” means implanted with a valid microchip in accordance with regulation 9 of the Dogs (Licensing and Identification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 20122.