FVE and FECAVA call for mandatory cat and dog Identification and Registration in the EU
As kitten and puppy season is starting and shelters across Europe brace for overcrowding, veterinarians, animal welfare organisations, and industry partners unite to send a clear and urgent message: support the mandatory Identification and Registration of cats and dogs in the EU.
Thousands of dogs—and many more cats—are abandoned annually across Europe. Many fall victim to accidents, diseases and neglect. The lucky ones are rescued and taken in by shelters and later rehomed, often at the expense of public funds. However, initial owners are often never identified or held accountable.
At the same time, illegal cat and dog trade continues to thrive, exploiting loopholes in the system, avoiding tax obligations, operating in conditions that often compromise animal welfare and risk spreading diseases across borders.
While progress has been made for dogs, cats are still too often overlooked despite becoming increasingly popular companions. They are also abandoned in significantly larger numbers, with populations in many EU regions still not under control. The only way to solve this is to introduce mandatory cat Identification and Registration with a reasonable but not excessive transition period.
Without mandatory Identification and Registration, cats and dogs are treated like disposable items—untraceable, easily abandoned, and left to suffer. FVE and FECAVA therefore join other organisations (LINK to joint letter) in urging you to vote for mandatory Identification and Registration of all cats and dogs: Chip, Track, Protect!
Benefits of Identification & Registration
- Reunites lost cats and dogs with their families – quickly and reliably.
- Discourages abandonment by holding owners accountable and lowering costs for shelters and municipalities.
- Supports disease control and avoids costly outbreaks.
- Helps fight illegal trade and irresponsible breeding practices.
- Enables better data to shape effective animal welfare policies.
- Combats antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by linking treatments to individual animals.
Identification and Registration is a small step with a huge impact with a low, one-time cost—but the benefits are long-term:
European citizens care deeply about animal welfare. They want cats and dogs to be treated with dignity. Identification and Registration is a key building block for a transparent, accountable, responsible and compassionate approach to pet ownership.
All cats and dogs deserve this.
