Polish government plans national pet registry to reduce costs of stray animal control and sheltering.
New Mandatory Microchipping System
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MRiRW) has signaled support for mandatory microchipping of dogs across Poland.
National Pet Registry Plans
MRiRW aims to create a National Register of Marked Dogs and Cats (KROPiK) to help municipalities combat animal homelessness. Currently, databases are maintained by private entities, and microchipping remains voluntary except for shelters and those traveling abroad with pets.
Financial Motivation
New obligations for owners of all dogs and some cats are designed to reduce municipal expenses for capturing stray animals and shelter maintenance. These costs have reached approximately 2.5 billion złoty in the last dozen years.