Kathmandu Metropolitan City rolls out an initiative to microchip pets

Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has rolled out a new pet microchipping initiative where pet sellers now need to microchip dogs and cats before selling them. This information was published on their Facebook page, along with instructions for pet owners to register their microchipped pets at their local ward office.

The idea is to implant a microchip in the animal's neck that stores important information such as the owner’s name, the pet’s age, and its health history. Later, this data can be scanned using an electronic reader, helping various authorities to maintain better records of domestic animals within the city.

According to Nuranidhi Neupane, head of KMC’s Agriculture and Livestock Department, the regulation is part of a broader effort to simplify pet registration and improve animal monitoring.

Implementation in progress, but still in early stages

After asking the KMC office for more details, I found that the program also aims to take care of and manage street and local dogs more effectively. Once the system is in place completely, pet owners will need to have their pets microchipped at a veterinary clinic and provide certain documents to their respective ward office for registration. Officials, however, clarified that the system is still in its early stages. They are encouraging the public to get used to the system, but at a gradual pace. They have already begun data collection exercises, and in the future, all pet-related records will be stored in a central database. A new web portal will also be launched to provide notifications regarding any pets. Including updates on registration and other relevant information. Also Read:

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Encouraging responsible pet ownership

Mr. Neupane emphasized that this regulation is part of KMC’s broader goal of promoting responsible pet ownership. With installation of microchips and giving a permanent ID for each animal, the hope is that it reduces pet abandonment rates and easy traceability of pets.

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