ASTANA – Microchipping domestic pets will soon be mandatory in the capital. Medical records as well as information about the owners will be combined into a database linked to similar catalogues globally.
Photo credit: inform.kz.
“As instructed by city Akim (Mayor) Asset Issekeshev, digitisation should embrace all the aspects of life in the capital. The akimat (city administration) also pays special attention to domestic pet care and Astana’s Chief Digital Officer, deputy akim Malika Bekturova, announced this initiative. To date, we have carried out work to develop requirements for veterinary clinics to use,” said Astana Innovations Chairperson Olzhas Sartayev.
Microchipping will allow systematising and monitoring all pets and ease the search process in case an animal is lost. The medical records database will also increase the efficiency of medical activities.
“It can be said with certainty that once a pet is included in the system, it cannot get lost since the owner is held responsible for it. The technology will make pet monitoring transparent and thus create new opportunities for legislative regulation of domestic animals,” he added.
A special government entity will purchase the microchips to become the sole supplier and the price will be determined. In some places, a microchip is priced at 1,500 tenge (US$4.50) and the installation procedure is 2,000 tenge (US$6), whereas the cost of producing a microchip is approximately 300 tenge (US$0.90), according to Sartayev.
All veterinary clinics will also be equipped with the medical information system.
“Taking into account the social aspects of such an initiative and importance of taking care of pets, we encourage local specialists and professionals to join and contribute to the project. We need a wide range of experts, including lawyers, IT specialists and experts on infrastructure projects,” he noted.
