Chip chip hooray: Maitland City Council will microchip your pet for free this February

Local pet owners are encouraged to microchip their cat or dog free of charge next month when Maitland City Council hosts a free pop-up microchipping day at the Maitland Animal Management Facility in East Maitland.

From 10am to 2pm on Sunday 9 February, Maitland residents can bring their cat or dog to the facility at 11 Metford Road and have them microchipped for free.

Maitland Mayor Philip Penfold said microchipping your household pets was an “important part of responsible pet ownership”.

“If your cat or dog gets out and does a runner, then a microchip with up-to-date contact information for the owners can save everyone a lot of time, money and heartache in the long run,” Mayor Penfold said.

“Events such as these are a great way to improve access to and incentivise the uptake of responsible pet ownership practices.

“It’s free, there’s no need to book in advance and the procedure is quick and relatively painless for the pet too.

“Failing to microchip your pet carries a fine, but we won’t be issuing or enforcing any fines during this pop-up event, so we’re not deterring people from doing the right and responsible thing.”

Staff at the facility will require proof of Maitland residence, like a driver’s license, utility bill or rates notice, before installing a microchip.

All dogs must be on leads and cats kept in carriers while attending.

Microchipping cats and dogs is a legal requirement in New South Wales by 12 weeks of age, or before they are sold or given away (whichever occurs first).

Residents looking to microchip more than three animals, or aggressive animals, are encouraged to call the Maitland Animal Management Facility beforehand to discuss their requirements ahead of time.

For more information on pet registration and microchipping, visit mait.city/PetRegistration