Can I rehome a puppy without a microchip if the new owner will implant it later?

For dogs, no: in Italy identification and registration are compulsory, and the change of ownership is recorded against the microchip itself. Rehoming an unidentified dog leaves the animal registered to you in the database and exposes you if it goes missing or causes harm to others. For cats the requirement varies from region to region, but implanting the chip before the handover is still the safest choice, because it lets you formalise the transfer and recover the animal if it bolts in the first days.

How recent does the certificate of good health need to be?

There is no single expiry that fits everyone, but the point of the document is to capture the animal's condition close to the handover. A certificate signed a few days earlier describes the puppy the new owner actually takes home; one from two months back describes a different animal, because conditions change fast at that age. As a rule of thumb, aim for an exam within a few days of the handover and attach the full record book anyway, which shows the continuity of care.

If I give the puppy to a friend, are the documents still needed?

Yes. Giving it away changes the money side, not the health and registry obligations. The change of ownership still has to be recorded, because it moves responsibility for the animal, and a signed declaration of the state of health protects both sides even between people who trust each other. Friendships survive better when expectations are written down: if a problem appears after a week, a shared document keeps the relationship from souring.

Who is responsible if the puppy falls ill a few days after the handover?

It depends on when the problem began and on what was known at the moment of handover. The person handing over stays liable for defects already present, even those not visible to the eye, but is not liable for what arises afterwards or for poor care in the new home. This is where a recent certificate and an honest declaration make the difference: they show the starting point and good faith. In a serious, early illness, a conversation between the two vets almost always clarifies where the problem came from.

Documents and paperwork40 minLevel: IntermediateUpdated on August 20, 2026

Getting the health paperwork right when you rehome a puppy or kitten

Health certificate, microchip and change of ownership: the documents you need to rehome a puppy legally and protect the person taking it home.

Audience: Pet owners, Breeders
Species: Dog, Cat
Scope: Valid everywhere, Italy, European Union

What you need before you start

Il libretto sanitario del cucciolo con le date di vaccinazioni e sverminazioni
Il numero di microchip e la ricevuta di applicazione rilasciata dal veterinario
I dati anagrafici completi di chi cede e di chi riceve l'animale
Il recapito della tua ASL o del servizio veterinario che gestisce l'anagrafe locale

Rehoming a puppy does not end with a handshake and a bag of kibble. Whether you are a breeder, a private owner with an unplanned litter or a family passing on a rescued kitten, the law expects a written trail of who the animal is, where it comes from and what state of health it starts in. A well built file protects the person receiving the animal, because it states what has been done and what is still missing, and it protects the person handing it over, because it shows good faith if an illness appears weeks later. This guide lays out the documents that actually matter, who issues them, within what timeframe, and how to hand them over so they still hold up months down the line.

What paperwork really travels with a puppy

Passing on a companion animal is not like selling an object: it carries a small dossier that follows the animal for life. Before you set a handover date, check that you hold every item on the list, because recovering a document after the puppy has already left is far harder.

The microchip, already implanted and registered to the person handing over, with the implantation receipt.
The health record book with the dates of vaccinations, wormings and parasite treatments given.
A certificate of good health, signed by a vet on a date close to the handover.
The change of ownership form, used to move the microchip registration to the new keeper.
For pedigree dogs, the genealogical certificate or the pending application with the recognised body.
A transfer declaration signed by both parties, with names, date and the declared state of health.

The certificate of good health: who signs it and what it covers

The certificate of good health is signed by a vet after a clinical examination; the person handing over cannot fill it in. It states that, on the day of the exam, the animal showed no obvious signs of disease. It is not a guarantee about the future and does not cover illnesses still incubating, but it captures the starting point, and that snapshot is exactly what protects both sides if something changes after the handover.

What a useful certificate of good health should contain in case of a dispute. The exact wording can vary between regions and practices.
Item	Why it matters
Animal identity	Species, breed, sex, date of birth and microchip number, so the certificate cannot be moved to another animal
Date of the exam	It must be close to the handover: a certificate from two months earlier describes a different animal
Clinical findings	General condition, mucous membranes, heart and lung sounds, abdomen, skin and coat
Preventive care given	Vaccinations and wormings with dates and products, consistent with the record book
Stamp and signature	The vet's details and registration number, otherwise the document has no value

Microchip and change of ownership, step by step

The change of ownership moves the microchip registration to the new keeper. Until it is recorded, as far as the database is concerned the animal is still yours, with every consequence that follows if it is lost or involved in an accident. It is a simple procedure, but close it within the handover days rather than putting it off.

Confirm the microchip is registered in your name
Check the registration receipt. If you took the puppy on from a third party without recording the transfer, fix your own position first, otherwise you cannot rehome it properly.
Collect the new keeper's details
You need the new owner's full name, tax code and address. One wrong detail stalls the registration and sends you back to the desk.
Complete your region's transfer form
Every regional registry has its own template. You will find it on the local health authority website, or the accredited vet who handles registrations will give it to you.
Submit the transfer through the registry or the vet
In many regions an accredited vet records the change directly in the database. In others you hand the signed form to the veterinary service of the local health authority.
Get the receipt for the transfer
It is proof that from that moment the animal is no longer your responsibility. Keep a copy and give one to the person receiving it.
Hand over the updated record book with the rest of the file
The new owner must be able to continue the boosters without rebuilding the history. A complete record book avoids repeating vaccinations pointlessly.

Timing, minimum age and what the law says

A puppy is not rehomed the moment it is weaned. Being separated too early from the mother and littermates leaves behavioural gaps that are hard to close, and many European systems set a minimum age below which rehoming is not allowed. Respecting the timing is not just an obligation, it is what lets the animal arrive settled in its new home.

In Italy and across much of the European Union the minimum rehoming age is generally set at 8 weeks, subject to more cautious regional rules.
The primary vaccination course starts before rehoming: the puppy leaves with at least the first dose and a schedule for the rest.
Worming is repeated several times in the first weeks of life, and the dates must appear in the record book.
Selling puppies as a regular activity counts as a business that needs a VAT number and tax obligations: an occasional litter is a different case.
Private handovers should still be documented with a signed declaration, even when the animal is given away rather than sold.

Handing over a file that protects both sides

The handover is the moment when everything you have prepared has to change hands in an orderly way. A muddled file generates phone calls, doubts and, at worst, disputes. Prepare two copies, one for the person receiving and one you keep, so that if an argument arises you both start from the same documents.

Put the certificate of good health, the record book and the microchip receipt in one folder.
Add the transfer declaration signed in two copies, with the date and the declared state of health.
Include a sheet with the dates of the next boosters and wormings still due.
Write down the food type and the amount the puppy eats, to avoid an abrupt change of diet.
Photograph every document before the handover and keep the images with your paper copy.

A document that only exists in a drawer protects nobody: it protects only when it is complete, signed and in the hands of both parties.
Common practice at animal registry desks

Frequently asked questions

Can I rehome a puppy without a microchip if the new owner will implant it later?: For dogs, no: in Italy identification and registration are compulsory, and the change of ownership is recorded against the microchip itself. Rehoming an unidentified dog leaves the animal registered to you in the database and exposes you if it goes missing or causes harm to others. For cats the requirement varies from region to region, but implanting the chip before the handover is still the safest choice, because it lets you formalise the transfer and recover the animal if it bolts in the first days.
How recent does the certificate of good health need to be?: There is no single expiry that fits everyone, but the point of the document is to capture the animal's condition close to the handover. A certificate signed a few days earlier describes the puppy the new owner actually takes home; one from two months back describes a different animal, because conditions change fast at that age. As a rule of thumb, aim for an exam within a few days of the handover and attach the full record book anyway, which shows the continuity of care.
If I give the puppy to a friend, are the documents still needed?: Yes. Giving it away changes the money side, not the health and registry obligations. The change of ownership still has to be recorded, because it moves responsibility for the animal, and a signed declaration of the state of health protects both sides even between people who trust each other. Friendships survive better when expectations are written down: if a problem appears after a week, a shared document keeps the relationship from souring.
Who is responsible if the puppy falls ill a few days after the handover?: It depends on when the problem began and on what was known at the moment of handover. The person handing over stays liable for defects already present, even those not visible to the eye, but is not liable for what arises afterwards or for poor care in the new home. This is where a recent certificate and an honest declaration make the difference: they show the starting point and good faith. In a serious, early illness, a conversation between the two vets almost always clarifies where the problem came from.

What to do next

Before rehoming a puppy, make sure the microchip is registered in your name, get a recent certificate of good health, prepare the transfer declaration and a complete record book, and record the change of ownership within the handover days. Hand everything over in two copies, keep one yourself, and attach the schedule of boosters still due: a tidy file protects the person receiving the animal and shields you from disputes.