02/10/2025
My Take on the New MSAW Regulation About Dog Registration
This new regulation is a very good step forward—one that should have been introduced years ago. Dog registration will ensure that pets are properly accounted for and not allowed to roam freely. Registered dogs should remain within their owner’s yard or home, not on the streets. If a registered dog is found wandering, the owner should be held responsible and fined accordingly. This promotes responsible pet ownership and helps reduce the number of strays in our communities.
Now, what about stray dogs? Strays have long been a challenge in many neighborhoods, often becoming a nuisance and causing various issues. By registering all owned dogs, we will finally have a clear idea of how many stray dogs exist on the island. With this data, authorities can implement humane solutions—such as capturing, sterilizing, and releasing strays.
However, sterilization alone is not enough. Once released, these dogs still need to find food, and this is an important issue that must be addressed alongside the new regulation. A sustainable approach would combine registration, sterilization, and feeding programs to ensure both community safety and animal welfare.
We also hope the authorities will expand the number of registration centres. Currently, only two centres are available, which is far from sufficient. In my view, registered veterinarians should also be included in the process, with fixed, transparent pricing. This would make registration more accessible and efficient, while ensuring fairness for all dog owners.
Another crucial aspect is microchipping. The insertion of a microchip is the most reliable way to prove ownership of a dog. Collars and tags can easily be removed or lost, but a microchip is permanent, tamper-proof, and unique to each animal. With proper scanning equipment, authorities can immediately identify the rightful owner of any dog. This protects responsible owners, discourages abandonment, and ensures that lost pets can be safely reunited with their families.
