What is Identification & Registration (I&R) for cat and dogs and why is it important? (2025)

FAQs

What is Identification & Registration (I&R) for cat and dogs and why is it important? ›

By identifying and registering (I&R) your companion animal, you can't prevent all possible calamities but you can ensure they can be identified and returned to you if found by a person or the police. Many people aren't aware of the crucial importance of microchipping and registering their cats and dogs.

Municipal law requires that all cats over the age of four months be licensed as a rabies control measure. Making sure your pet has its current license attached to its collar also is your best insurance of having your pet returned to you in case he or she becomes lost or gets out of your yard.

The primary goal of registries is to record and maintain breeding and ownership records of the purebred animals submitted to the registry. These record form the pedigree, or ancestry chart, of each animal.

What does it mean if my pets are microchipped but not registered? It means you skipped an important step. By not registering your information tagged to the serial number, the chips are useless. If lost, the pets will be found to have “blank” information to get them back to you.

Breed Recognition: Dogs registered with the AKC are recognized as purebred dogs of a specific breed. This recognition is essential for maintaining the integrity and standards of various dog breeds.

Registration papers are the most reliable way to verify a dog's lineage and purebred status. Also: They enable breeders to participate in ethical breeding programs. Breeders need registration papers to register any offspring that their dog produces.

Animal identification (ID) refers to keeping records on individual farm animals or groups of farm animals so that they can be easily tracked from their birth through the marketing chain.

A Collar and tag is a simple way of pet ID. With a name, address, and phone number on the tag, a pet can be easily reunited with their owners if ever lost or injured. If the pet has a microchip tag or even a rabies tag on the collar, this can also aid in the reuniting of a pet to their owner.

Breed registries usually issue certificates for each recorded animal, called a pedigree, pedigreed animal documentation, or most commonly, an animal's "papers". Registration papers may consist of a simple certificate or a listing of ancestors in the animal's background, sometimes with a chart showing the lineage.

What happens if you don't register a microchip? ›

An unregistered microchip is extremely difficult to trace back to the owner, and a busy shelter may not have the time or resources to track down that information. (Remember: the registration needs to be updated if you ever move or change your phone number.)

If you fail to register your cat or dog when required to do so you may be issued with a fixed penalty notice of $330, or a court may award a maximum penalty of up to $5500 or up to $6,500 if your dog is a restricted dog or a declared dangerous or menacing dog.

Richards should not contact the microchip company to identify the person or organization that implanted the microchip. Microchip registration does not determine ownership of an animal.

Yes, all cat owners must ensure their cat is microchipped from the 10 June 2024. This means that you should have your cat microchipped before this deadline.

The new rules means that cats must be microchipped before they reach the age of 20 weeks, except for unowned cats like feral and community cats. Indoor-only cats must be microchipped as well. As part of the new rules, you must keep your contact details up to date on a Defra-approved microchipping database.

You can pick up a transfer form at animal shelters, or from many veterinarians. You may also be able to download a copy of the form online. The form requires information about you and the new owner, as well as basic information about the pet.

1. Do I really need to license my pet in Oregon? Yes, all dogs and cats in Oregon are required to be licensed.

Humane societies and rescue organizations recommend that dogs and cats wear these tags, which present that the wearer is not a stray, and contain information to enable someone encountering a lost pet to contact the owner.

Residents must provide proof of a California approved rabies vaccination to obtain a license (OCCO 4-1-70). Cat licensing is optional and available through OC Animal Care. Licensing your dog provides necessary information to support investigations of cruelty, neglect, abandonment and dog bites.

Ohio law does not require cats to be licensed like dogs. Of course, we encourage all owners to take every precaution to keep their pet safe. Cats can also be microchipped and owners can attach ID tags to their collars with their contact information.