The number of microchipped animals in Italy is growing to 15,600,787: as of 4 February, 14,298,845 dogs, 1,299,321 cats and 2,621 ferrets were registered in the regional registry of pets.
The International Organization for Animal Protection (Oipa) made this known by noting that a year ago, as of 4 February 2023, there were a total of 14,983,797, of which 13,838,856 dogs, 1,142,504 cats and 2,437 ferrets.
The figures, explains Oipa, are extracted from the database of the Pet Animal Registry managed by the Ministry of Health, which is fed and updated at least once a month by the Regions and autonomous Provinces.
As last year, the Region with the most microchipped animals - 2,484,207 - is Lombardy (2,014,516 dogs, 468,689 cats and 1,002 ferrets) while the Region with the fewest animals registered in the registry - 35,009 - is Valle d'Aosta (28,830 dogs and 6,179 cats).
From the ministry's data it emerges that the number of microchipped four-legged animals in Lazio has fallen (supplanted in the ranking by Campania): last year it was in 5th place with 1,167,251 animals, while as of 4 February 2024 there were 1,165,623.
In the ranking of the Regions with the highest number of microchipped pets, Veneto is second (1,648,410), followed by Emilia Romagna (1,543,895), Piedmont (1,250,097) and Campania (1,248,539).
It is impossible to estimate the percentage of microchipped dogs out of the total also due to the failure of many owners to comply with the obligation, explains the Oipa whose president, Massimo Comparotto launches an appeal "to all the Regions so that with their own laws they introduce the obligation to register Registry of all pets".
He would allow "a further tightening of the phenomenon of abandonment and overpopulation of animals locked in kennels and catteries", he concludes.
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