Being the owner of a pet means not only taking care of it, but also taking full responsibility for it, even from a legislative point of view!
For this reason, when there is a transfer or sale between private individuals, it is still mandatory to notify the competent services through the change of ownership of a dog.
But how to extricate yourself from this bureaucracy? Let’s find out together!
The National Canine Registry
L’Register of pets is a national database where, through a capillary network of territorial registries, all information relating to dogs, cats and ferrets and their respective owners are stored.
The establishment of this national service has a threefold purpose:
Registration of a dog it is required by lawand must be done within 2 months from birth, or within 1 month from when you get it.
The certificate of registration in the registry will also be issued at the office, which represents a real “identity card” of the animal and which must accompany it in all transfers of ownership.
The registration requires the inoculation of a microchip by the competent veterinarian, which constitutes from 1 January 2005, theunique national identification system recognized.
Giving, selling or giving away dogs without microchips is forbidden and there is a risk of a fine ranging from 78 to 233 euros.
For the gatto registration in the registry is mandatory only in Lombardy and Puglia, unless you have to travel abroad and apply for a European passport.
How to do the change of ownership of a dog?
The change of ownership of a dog it is required by law and must be done every time a registered dog is sold / given / given to third parties.
The transition is made by presenting a special one documentation which serves to inform the veterinary services and in other words, to be in good standing. But how does it work? What do you need? Do you pay?
The answer to these questions is not unambiguous, as the national service always refers to provincial and regional bodies that may vary between them. Therefore the first advice is always that of inquire at your local health authorities reference veterinarians so as not to make mistakes and to complete them all within the scheduled time.
What documents are needed
Despite local regulatory differences, for the change of ownership of a dog i papers that are usually required are:
- Il ASL form on the transfer of ownership, which is usually downloadable from the official websites of the region of competence, containing the declaration of sale / acquisition of the dog (here an example relating to the Emilia Romagna region);
- The photocopies of identity documentstax code of the new and old owner;
- Il identity certificate of the dog certifying the application of the microchip issued during registration at the registry office.
Who to contact
The change of ownership of a dog can be carried out by public structures but also by private individuals, as long as they are accredited. In fact, you can contact:
- an accredited veterinarian;
- at the municipal canine registry office;
- to the competent veterinary ASLs.
Here it will be possible to deliver the required documentation.
How you do it
Both the old and the new owner will have to deliver the documentation to one of the accredited health services mentioned above.
Even in the case of sale / transfer between different regions, the old owner must submit the request for the transfer of the animal within 15 days.
The new owner will have to do the same, by submitting the mandatory acquisition application instead within 30 days of the same.
How much does it cost to change ownership of a dog?
The cost here also varies from province to province. Not all of them require payment and in any case these are small amounts to cover administration costs.
In Milan, for example, the cost of the change of ownership of a dog is 6,11 Eurowhile in Rome of 8 Euro.
How does the transfer of ownership of a dog between different regions work?
As we have said, there are regional and provincial differences regarding the transfer of ownership of a dog: from the website of the ASL of reference it is possible to find more information about the local modus operandi.
Sometimes the presence of both parties or possibly a proxy is required, in other times the presence of the dog to read the microchip is also required.
Private sale in some regions and provinces
A Palermo for example, the change of ownership of a dog must be done within 30 days, and the usual documentation is required from both the seller and the future owner.
In Tuscany it will be sufficient to go to the website of your province and send all the required certifications by e-mail. In Lombardy instead times are more stringent: we are talking about 15 days for the entire procedure.
Adoption outside the region among non-private individuals
In case of sale not between private individualsthe movement of animals for adoption between different regions also provides for the observation of further prevention regulations aimed at reducing the infectious risk.
In addition to having the registration in the registry office and the microchip, the dog must:
- have been treated with a pesticide;
- be sterilized;
- be vaccinated with mandatory vaccines;
- be older than eight weeks;
- have tested negative for ehrlichiosis and leishmaniasis in the month preceding the passage.
If you have any doubts or are unable to solve them, ask your veterinarian what the procedure is in place for you: he could be accredited himself or, if not, he will surely be aware of the local regulations and can help you to submit the application correctly!