Mandatory requirement for cat and dog owners: Deadline for identification announced

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has implemented new regulations within the scope of the "Regulation on Amending the Regulation on the Identification and Registration of Cats, Dogs, and Ferrets." With the regulation published in the Official Gazette, cat and dog owners will be obligated to register their animals within the specified period.

According to the new regulation, all cats and dogs will be identified and registered through provincial and district directorates of agriculture and forestry or authorized institutions. Pet owners are required to complete this process by December 31, 2025.

The registration process for cats and dogs adopted from animal shelters will be entered into the Ministry's system by the responsible veterinarians, and passports will be issued for these animals. Local governments, natural or legal persons, and private animal living facilities will be tasked and responsible during this process.

PRIVATE ANIMAL LIVING FACILITIES DEFINED 

With the regulation, facilities established with permission from the Ministry where animals are housed have been defined as "Private animal living facilities." These facilities will be obligated to report the death or loss of the animals they have adopted to the relevant provincial or district directorate within the specified time.

Owners of private animal living facilities will be responsible for the care and feeding of the pets, will not be able to abandon the animals, and will not be able to rehome them. Furthermore, it will be prohibited for them to house more animals than the capacity specified in their permit.

MICROCHIP REQUIREMENT 

With the new regulation, some changes have also been made to the microchip application. Microchips will now be placed between the shoulder blades of the animals or in the neck area close to the ear. In some breeds with genetic predispositions, it may also be applied to the leg or chest area.

Additionally, the term "Shelter" used in the regulation has been changed to "Animal care facility."

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT 

Within the scope of the new regulation, when stray animals are adopted by natural or legal persons and private animal living facilities from animal care facilities, a stray animal acquisition form will be filled out. In this process, a new passport will be issued by the veterinarians employed by local governments within at most ten days from the date of adoption and will be recorded in the database.

In the event of the death of registered pets, owners must notify the provincial or district directorate or authorized institutions and organizations within 30 days, and within 7 days in case of loss.

DEADLINE: DECEMBER 31, 2025

All cat and dog owners will be required to have their animals identified and registered by applying to the provincial or district directorate or authorized institutions and organizations by December 31, 2025. It is stated that sanctions may be applied for animals that are not identified by this date.