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Japan passes bill requiring microchipping of pets to reduce strays

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Direct sales between breeders and owners of protected species of Japanese dogs, including Shiba and Akita dogs, are not subject to the new rules.

Discrimination, for dogs? Why are these species so special? Why do owners of 'foreign' breeds need it while those of Japanese breeds don't?

AM I missing something here?

10 ( +11 / -1 )

I don't see the reason for not microchipping Japanese breeds. My Shiba is microchipped, hasn't done him any harm. All my critters are chipped, for safety's sake.

If the aim is to reduce the number of abandoned pets, and the breeders object to the Shibas and Akitas they breed being microchipped, aren't they basically saying they don't care what happens to the pups once they've sold them?

Sometimes he goes out and then comes back. That is what whippets do - but they are skittish

Take care he doesn't skit himself under the wheels of a car when he 'goes out'. Don't let him out except on a lead or in a safe, enclosed area. That is what pet owners do.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Legitimate breeders should not have been selling puppies and kittens at 7 weeks anyway. That is not where the problem lies and it certainly isn't going to do anything to reduce strays.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Direct sales between breeders and owners of protected species of Japanese dogs, including Shiba and Akita dogs, are not subject to the new rules.

Hmmm...... Shiba are very popular dogs, and it is possible, I will have to check, that the JKA and licensed breeder associations went out of their way to lobby for this exception to the new LAWS.

Discrimination, for dogs? Why are these species so special? Why do owners of 'foreign' breeds need it while those of Japanese breeds don't?

There are other breeds of Japanese dogs, besides these two, however these two are the major one's and without any further information, it is impossible to determine whether or not this is a discrimination issue between species.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

But he must run.

Of course he must, he's a whippet!

Take him out on the bike - my Dobie gets a 30-minute sprint every morning before the Shiba joins us for a more sedate walk. (Remember to attach the lead to a harness, not a collar)

Or find yourselves a dog run.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

JustMyThoughts - You mean kicking a defenceless pup hard enough to break bones is A-OK if it's done out of frustration??

Imagine the same 'mild manner, law abiding, tax paying, outstanding human' coming home from work one evening to find something else not to his liking. Maybe dinner isn't ready so in a moment of frustration he blacks his wife's eye. Maybe there are toys strewn across the living room floor and he steps painfully on a Lego brick. In a moment of frustration he beats one or all of his three kids.

But it would be wrong to screw Dad with a domestic violence report? So the wife tells the neighbours she walked into a door. At school the kids explain their bruises by saying they accidentally fell downstairs. And the next time Dad feels a moment of frustration, the same thing happens again. And again. And again.

'A moment of frustration' is no excuse. Your pathetic excuse for a 'mild manner, law abiding, tax paying, outstandingly inadequate human' deserves all he gets.

Laguna-

I understand, but that still leaves decision-making to the owner, which means the dog has no opportunities to learn.

Decision-making is the owner's responsibility. As anyone who reads these pages will know, I love my dogs (all dogs...), I think they're brilliant - but they're dogs. They have little doggie brains. They're never going to have an intellect any more refined than that of a human toddler. I wouldn't give a toddler the opportunity to make a bad decision about running in front of a car, and I wouldn't give a dog the same opportunity, either. They can make decisions about which toys they want to play with, which dog bed they want to sleep in - the stuff that's important to a dog and doesn't threaten its safety. They can learn all kinds of safe stuff - sit, down, stay, come, fetch, close the door, go to your place, stand still without biting while the vet examines you, etc. I'm going to keep on making the decision as to whether they can run into the road and the decision is always No.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

You thought microchipping was expensive before. Watch the price soar now that it’s a requirement. Instead of ¥10,000 it will go up to ¥25,000.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

I have a whippet. Sometimes he goes out and then comes back. That is what whippets do - but they are skittish and never violent. But shiba and akita?! Those are basal breeds, capable of great damage.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Adopt! d

Don’t buy!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

A great move by the government here! More commonsense like this, please.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Labradors are so much fun and friendly

Our first family dog was a Lab, and he was lovely. He was also bred from UK stock.

I would be very careful about choosing any breed that has enjoyed a spate of popularity in Japan - like Labs did a while ago. Also Huskies, dachshunds, pomeranians, sheltland sheepdogs, toy poodles, chihuahuas, beagles and Shibas. When a breed becomes popular the puppy mills go into overload churning out pups for sale with no regard to breed standards, and the results can be dire.

I met a Lab in Japan that was a snarling, ready-to-fight-anything miserable wreck. The poor owner thought they'd bought a fun and friendly family pet - instead they got a liability.

Buyer beware? - Don't buy, adopt. If you must buy, go to a reputable breeder who will explain his breeding policy (and who will want to ascertain that you are a fit person to care for one of his dogs), not to a pet-shop that simply wants your cash.

Laguna - We'll have to agree to disagree. Dogs are of course highly intelligent in areas that concern them. But that doesn't always include self-preservation. Take care.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I've seen a stray cat now and then, but in my many years living in Japan I have never seen one stray dog.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Direct sales between breeders and owners of protected species of Japanese dogs, including Shiba and Akita dogs, are not subject to the new rules.

Why? This breed should be the most important to microchip to keep the integrity of the breed.

It's interesting they state they have instigated microchipping to control strays, but that will mean nothing unless they start scanning potential strays and culling them.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Take two...

Any "law" that makes it "voluntary" = pointless.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Adopt! d

Don’t buy!

Agreed!

And then spay/neuter and microchip!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

But shiba and akita?! Those are basal breeds, capable of great damage.

They're also unpredictable and hard to read.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Japan already has a program to reduce strays. They round them up and gas them the same day.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Cleo, he's found himself on the front grill twice, and that's been enough to teach him. But he must run.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Who decided this was a problem anyway? I've never seen a stray dog in Japan and I've been to country's where there are strays dogs and life goes on. What's next? Chickens? Pigs? Hamsters? Gold Fish? Good grief...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cleo, I understand, but that still leaves decision-making to the owner, which means the dog has no opportunities to learn.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

There are NO strays in Japan. Really. I have looked for strays. None!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Any "law" that makes it "mandatory" = pointless.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Once Japanese start to adopt Labrador Retriever (any colors), they won't look twice at Shiba and Akita.

Labradors are so much fun and friendly for your home and family.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Cleo, I understand your point but respectfully disagree. Many are too anthropomorphic when considering dog behavior. They may have little understanding of human society, but, depending on the individual, they may be highly intelligent in areas that concern them. And that includes self-preservation.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Pets first people later, ironic new on the anniversary on George Orwells 1984.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Wouldn't microchip anything of mine. My pets, my kids, myself, none of it. Stay out of our personal business!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

How about a bill ending the sale of animals as pets? There's enough cats and dogs without homes to fulfill your desires to play master over another living being.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

What if I or my dog is religiously opposed to such? Mark of the beast kinda thing?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Great idea to reduce homeless animals, and amazing new hi-tech microchips! Cool Japan.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Mild manner, law abiding, tax paying, outstanding human who; let's say is married, father of three. He comes home from work one evening and finds his house shoes chewed to shreads and in a moment of frustration, kicks the new family puppy. The kick, ends up causing a slight fracture in the puppy's right leg. A trip to the vet for some puppy care and dad confesses to the crime. I assume the Vet will now have some sort of an Pet Domestic Violence reporting responsibility.

Yep, Dad is screwed! Kids, let's call them orphans. Wife... water ever. Lock him up! How long? You read the article, FIVE YEARS!

This whole law smells of crappy politics and ridiculous advocates pushing to fix a problem that does not exist.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

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