The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has launched a two-year experiment to improve the system of identification and registration of pets. The government has also approved the procedure for its implementation, which regulates the registration, accounting of animals, replacement or issuance of veterinary passports, and the functioning of the new state register.
The state register has already been created and transferred to the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture. In the first stage of testing, over 6,000 pets were entered into the system. In the near future, state veterinary clinics will join the pilot project, followed by private institutions.
Which animals will be registered
Initially, dogs, cats, and domestic ferrets (frettchen) will be entered into the register — these species are subject to identification in accordance with European standards.
Registration conditions
For owners, the procedure is free and voluntary. Veterinary services, such as vaccination or chipping, are paid separately according to current tariffs.
A microchip is not mandatory for registration, but its presence significantly increases the chances of returning a lost pet. If the animal already has a chip, a repeated procedure is not required — the veterinarian will read the data from the existing chip and enter it into the database.
How registration works
It is not possible to register an animal online. Data is entered into the register by veterinary doctors of clinics working with the new system. The owner or their representative provides the necessary information and signs an application, after which the veterinarian identifies the animal or scans the microchip.
If the owner already has a veterinary passport, the information from it can be transferred to the new register without issuing a new document.
What registration provides
The state system will store data on vaccinations, veterinary documents, and other information about the animal. If a paper passport is lost, the information can be quickly restored. In addition, the register will simplify the search for lost animals: with registration or a microchip, a veterinarian or an authorized institution will be able to quickly identify the owner. The system will also help control rabies vaccination and curb the spread of dangerous diseases.
Accounting for stray animals
A separate section of the register is dedicated to stray animals. They will be registered by communal services or other legal entities authorized by local self-government bodies and licensed for veterinary practice. This will allow obtaining up-to-date data on the number of stray animals and planning programs for responsible handling of them.
Future plans
After the successful completion of the experiment, the digital veterinary passport is planned to be integrated into the "Diia" application so that owners can use it from their smartphone.
