KAJANG: Pet owners can obtain a “passport” with their animal's medical history from the Veterinary Services Department.
They can also have a chip placed under the animal's skin to make it easier for them to trace the pet if it goes missing.
Pet owners can obtain Pet Passports or Malaysian Animal Identification Cards when they register their pets at the department's offices or veterinarians appointed by it.
“Pet Passports are important because they collect all your pet's vital information in one document, which will make it easier for the authorities at national borders to confirm the health and immunisation record of your pet,” said department director-general Datuk Dr Abd Aziz at the launching of the Pet Passport at the Veterinary Management Centre here.
He said the passport would be useful in helping owners identify their pets through microchips embedded beneath the animal's skin and the control of disease in the case of epidemics.
Each passport, Dr Abdul Aziz said, would contain the pet's photograph, information on the animal, the owner and its medical and movement records.
He also said that the department was looking to include DNA information in the future.
Dr Abdul Aziz added that while the DVS was targeting pet owners in the Klang Valley for now, Pet Passport availability would soon be expanded to other parts of Malaysia.
Registration was open to all types of pets, Dr Abd Aziz said, adding that the department was currently focusing on dogs, cats, horses and rabbits.
Registration would cost RM7 for dogs, cats and rabbits and RM9 for horses, he said, adding that the price was not inclusive of the microchip, physical examination, photo or other service costs.
