The owners of dogs and parts of cats in Poland will face revolutionary changes. The Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers shall examine the draft implementing act National registry of Marked Dogs and Cats (CROPIK). It is simply a fresh initiative that aims not only to facilitate the recognition of animals but besides to importantly reduce the number of homeless pets. What does that mean for you and your four-legged friend? Prepare for fresh responsibilities and possible costs.
What is KROPiK and why is it created?
KROPiK is simply a nationwide strategy to collect data on all labelled dogs and selected categories of cats. The main presumption of the authors of the bill is the fast and effective recognition of the owner of the animal, which e.g. went missing and went to the shelter. Today, it is the municipalities that bear crucial costs related to the harvesting, maintenance and treatment of homeless animals. According to the designers, the introduction of KROPiK is to reduce these expenditures and contribute to reducing the problem of animal homelessness in Poland.
In practice, thanks to this register, if your dog or cat escapes, it will be much easier to find it and return it to you. It's a real benefit that gives you and your pet a sense of security.
Who will be covered by mandatory chipping and registration?
The fresh rules introduce different rules for dogs and cats:
- Dogs: The work to chip and registry will include all dogs, regardless of their age, both born before and after the entry into force of the Act. There are no exceptions.
- Cats: The rules are softer. Registration and chipping will be mandatory only for cats from shelters and those that go to sales. If you have a pet cat that does not come from a shelter and you do not intend to sale it, the decision to chip and registry will stay in your hands.
This is simply a key difference you must remember erstwhile planning future steps for your animals.
How much will you pay for your pet? circumstantial amounts.
Of course, 1 of the most frequently asked questions is the question of costs. The bill provides that:
- Chipping and entry in the register: This will be a one-off expenditure, which was estimated to be maximum in the Impact Assessment 50 PLN for chipping and 50 PLN for registration. That means you'll pay about 1 pet. PLN 100.
- Annual fee for having a dog: Additionally, the municipalities will have the chance to enforce the yearly fee for having a dog. Currently, the maximum amount of this charge is 173.57 PLN. It is worth noting that not all municipalities decide to download it, but after the introduction of the KROPiK this may change.
If your municipality decides to introduce a maximum fee, the full yearly cost of keeping your dog may increase by the PLN 173.57. The legislature estimates that if all municipalities had introduced a maximum fee and 5 million dogs were registered, the budgets of local governments could have been influenced by almost PLN 868 million per year.
When will the fresh regulations come into force? A agenda for owners.
The bill is to enter into force within a period 3 years from the date of its publication. Moreover, the owners of older dogs that have been with us for a long time will have additional 3 years to meet fresh responsibilities. This gives you time to prepare and plan a visit to the vet to chip.
Why is this crucial to you and your animal?
There is simply a immense number of pets in Poland. According to the European Federation of Animal Feeders, in 2022 dogs lived in almost half of Polish households (about 8 million dogs) and cats in 4 out of 10 houses (about 7.1 million cats). This is 1 of the highest indicators in Europe. The introduction of the KROPiK is simply a step towards greater work and safety for all these animals. As the owner, you gain assurance that if your pet is missing, the strategy will facilitate his return home. It is besides your contribution to the fight against animal homelessness, which is simply a burning social problem.
Keep up-to-date with developments and prepare for upcoming changes to guarantee your animal is full safe and compliant with the fresh regulations.
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Mandatory chipping of dogs and cats: KROPiK introduces fresh fees. See how much you pay!
