The Polish government has adopted a draft law concerning the establishment of a national registry for microchipped dogs and cats, known as KROPiK. This initiative, proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, aims to mitigate pet homelessness, reduce the growing financial burden on municipalities related to the maintenance of shelters, and facilitate the identification of pet owners for animals that are abandoned or lost. Jacek Czerniak, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, emphasized that mandatory microchipping and registration are regarded as effective methods for controlling the increasing number of stray dogs and cats.

The proposed law provides for the creation of a central database where all microchipped animals will be recorded. The responsibility for building and maintaining this database will fall to the Agricultural Restructuring and Modernization Agency (ARiMR). The law will require that all dogs undergo microchipping, which is anticipated to create a direct link between the animals and their owners or the shelters they are housed in, thereby enhancing accountability and traceability in pet ownership.

By implementing this legislation, Polish authorities aim to address the urgent issue of pet abandonment and homelessness, improving animal welfare in the country. It is expected that these regulatory changes will lead to better management practices regarding stray animals, ultimately contributing to a decrease in the number of pets without homes and thereby alleviating the strain on municipal resources that fund animal shelters.