Anyone who owns a dog knows how important it is to take care of it with love and attention, often with numerous sacrifices and renunciations. But in addition to cuddles, daily walks and the guarantee of a happy and dignified life, every owner is required to register their animal in the canine registry . In Sardinia , as in the rest of Italy, this is a legal requirement , but also a valuable tool to prevent abandonment and facilitate the recovery of lost dogs.

But what is the canine registry? It is a regional database in which all dogs identified by a microchip are recorded. The device , the size of a grain of rice, contains a numeric code that allows each animal to be associated with its owner. The data includes the owner's personal information and the characteristics of the dog's breed : a sort of identikit that allows anyone who finds the dog far from home to trace its family and prevent abandonment and mistreatment.

Registration can be done by contacting the ATS Veterinary Services or by your trusted veterinarian, if expressly authorized. The owner must proceed with registration within 10 days of the dog's birth or acquisition of the animal. Since the canine registry is a real database also useful in case of loss, after registration the owner has the obligation to promptly communicate any changes relating to the dog's life, such as death or loss, change of owner, or residence. These communications must be made to the ASSL competent for the territory.

Furthermore, since 2007 the canine registry database has been available online. This system, in compliance with privacy, makes it easier to find a lost dog. Knowing that a dog is registered and traceable also represents a deterrent for those who, irresponsibly, might think of getting rid of it. In Sardinia, the canine registry was established with the Regional Law of 18 May 1994, n. 21 ("Rules for the protection of animals and establishment of the canine registry"), becoming a fundamental tool for the protection of four-legged friends .

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