PASSPORTS - Fact or Fiction- Frequently asked questions
Q) My donkey never goes outside its paddock so I don't need to apply for a passport do I?
A) Yes I am afraid that even where a donkey or pony never leaves home it still needs a passport to identify it by name, number and address, so that in the event of an outbreak of disease the whereabouts of all equines can be traced through their entry on the National Equine Database.
Q) My donkey was born before 1st July 2009 so it doesn't need to be microchipped does it?
A) I regret to say that all equines which have not previously had a passport must now be microchipped before one can be issued.
Q) Can anyone insert a microchip? my friend has been taught how to insert them into a dog.
A) No the legislation is very clear and as it is considered an intrusive procedure only a veterinary surgeon is permitted to microchip an equine, and must mark its location on the outline diagram, sign and apply his practice stamp to the page at the same time.
Q) I can't be doing will all this bureaucracy, no-one will ever know whether I have passport or not, will they?
A) You may well think so! However if your donkey needs medical help, a veterinary surgeon is required to enter details of the medication given into the relevant pages of the passport, and whilst they are unlikely to refuse urgent treatment they are within their rights to refuse future involvement without a passport document, and to report that fact to the Trading Standards Animal Welfare Officer for the area. In the event of the animal needing to be destroyed the passport is required by the abattoir. Is it really worth the risk of a heavy fine? Do you have a spare £6000? And if you think that is just a dramatic gesture try telling that to the Wrexham lady who was sent to prison for passport offences.
Q)The legislation states that all donkeys had to have a passport by June 2005, but I forgot to apply, can I still do so?
A) Yes you can and application forms are available from the DBS Secretary, or can be dowloaded from this site, but the donkey must now be microchipped before you can apply and a passport issued.
Q) I have got a passport for my donkey but it has the old owner's name in it does that matter?
A) Yes it does matter and the legislation requires changes of ownership to be recorded in the same way that you would record the changes of keeper in a car log book. A form is inserted into the back pocket of every DBS passports so that you can inform us of your purchase, however a fee is payable for this service, currently £10 for a Donkey Breed Society passport and £15 for a Richard J Steel (Horse Passports) Ltd passport; cheques in both instances made payable to the Donkey Breed Society.
Q) I am selling my donkey but I haven't applied for a passport, now I won't need to will I?
A) Yes it does matter as it is a prosecutable offence to sell a donkey or pony that does not have passport?
Q) My donkey has sadly died, do I need to tell the DBS?
A) Yes the Donkey Breed Society does need to know so that the passport can be cancelled and the entry on the National Equine Database amended. The passport should be returned so that it can be stamped by us to cancel it after which time it can be returned to the owner if desired, or archived by the DBS.
Q) My donkey had a foal last year but as it's still a baby it doesn't need a passport does it?
A) Yes it does, and you must apply by the time it is 6 months old or at the end of the year in which it was born, whichever comes first. The fee for a donkey foal belonging to a member is currently £12.00 providing the application is made within those timescales otherwise it rises to £18.00
Q) I've lost my passport does it matter, you will know that I did have one won't you?
A) Yes it does matter as you are required to produce the actual document if requested to do so by any official acting on behalf of Trading Standards, Environmental Health, a Show or Event. A replacement passport, marked as such can be obtained from the original issuing organization, at an enhanced fee of £50.00
Q) I've got passports but not with me in my transport, no-one will know will they?
A) Try telling that to the owners in the West Midlands and Shropshire who have been refused entrance to pony club events and Shows because they couldn't produce their passports when requested by Environmental Officers, who then followed up with home visits threatening prosecution, a fine of £6,000 or three months Imprisonment. The passports must accompany the equines on journeys to shows, events, veterinary visits, and be available at the premises where the equine is kept if that is not your home, or in the latter instance able to be produced within 3 hours.
Q) My donkey has got two passport, aren't I lucky?
A) No you are not - It is illegal for any equine to have more than one passport, and the one issued first will take precedence, the second document must be returned to the PIO who issued it and cancelled.
Q) The information in my passport isn't correct! can it be changed?
A) A passport is a legal document and as such it is not intended that the identifying pages are reprinted, although if there is gross inaccuracy that may be necessary and the passport data programme will record the fact. Providing a veterinary surgeon verifies inaccurate ages or heights or any other changes to the identifying features the passport can be marked as containing amended data on the first page and the amendments shown on page 4. The animal's name as recorded on the document on Page 1 cannot be altered as it is cross referenced to the Unique Equine Life Number, however the name by which you personally refer to your donkey may be different and is one of personal preference, and your preference for another name rather than the one given by the owner at the time of application, can be added to the passport as an amendment on page 4.
