Pets in Italy can now have their very own digital health card, just like their owners, reports “La Zampa”, La Stampa’s animal section. The scheme is the result of a partnership between the pet lovers’ website AmicoPets, the Ministry of Health and the veterinary associations A.N.M.V.I and FNOVI.
Owners who enter their pets’ details on the AmicoPets website will shortly receive the card at home and can then take it to their vet to have details of the animal’s health registered on the site. For a fee of €28.00 per annum owners will then be able to browse the site for information on pet care, disease prevention and health.
Each pet will be given a special code which, in the case of microchipped pets, will be the same as the microchip code. If a pet is lost, the owner will be able to give details to the website’s call centre immediately and, thanks to the site’s data base, may be able to find the animal more quickly.
The data base will also provide the Ministry of Health with information on pet ownership in Italy and could be useful in preventing the spread of disease in humans.
