The International Animal Genetics Database (IAGD) is a private pet registry. It is not a Philippine government agency. An IAGD record does not replace any document the government requires. This article explains the line between what IAGD does, what government paperwork does, and how the two fit together. Read this before assuming an IAGD profile or QR code substitutes for an LGU registration, a BAI Veterinary Health Certificate, or a rabies certificate.
What IAGD is
- A private pet registry run by Meta Animals Technologies Corporation.
- A permanent ID for your pet that does not change when you move LGUs, switch vets, or change phone numbers.
- A digital vaccination card you can keep up to date as your vet adds entries.
- A lineage record (for animals with known sire and dam) and a scannable QR or IAGD number that links to the pet's public profile.
- A lost-pet recovery tool: when someone finds your pet, the QR or IAGD number gives them a way to reach you fast.
What IAGD is not
- Not LGU dog registration. Under RA 9482, dog owners must register their dog with their LGU City or Municipal Veterinary Office. IAGD does not satisfy that requirement. See do I need to register my dog with my LGU.
- Not a BAI Veterinary Health Certificate. For domestic flights, ferry travel, or international movement, BAI issues the VHC. IAGD's digital vaccination card is convenient to show your vet, but it is not a government document. See what is a BAI Veterinary Health Certificate.
- Not a rabies certificate. The signed certificate from your LGU or accredited private vet is the document RA 9482 cares about. IAGD records the vaccination event for your reference but does not issue the certificate.
- Not an import or export permit. Those are BAI documents.
- Not a microchip. A microchip is a physical implant; an IAGD record is a digital profile. The two can coexist (and often do) but they are different.
- Not legal proof of ownership in a court matter. An IAGD record helps establish provenance, but a contested ownership case turns on receipts, witness statements, and government records.
How the two work together
Think of government paperwork as compliance and IAGD as continuity. The government documents prove the pet is legally allowed to live, travel, or be sold in a given place at a given time. IAGD records carry the pet's history with it across those compliance events.
| Situation | Government document | How IAGD helps |
|---|---|---|
| Daily ownership | LGU registration + rabies certificate | Permanent pet ID, digital vax card. |
| Domestic flight | BAI Veterinary Health Certificate | Quick reference to vaccination history for the issuing vet. |
| Lost pet recovered by a stranger | None at the moment of recovery | IAGD QR or number on collar or tag connects finder to owner. |
| Bite incident | Rabies vaccination certificate (decides observation type) | Auxiliary record of vaccination history. |
| Buying or selling a pet | VHC; sometimes BAI registration of the establishment | Verifiable lineage and vaccination provenance. |
| International move | BAI VHC, export permit, international health certificate, destination-country documents | Centralized digital file you can show on a phone. |
When IAGD is most useful
- Lost-pet recovery. A stranger who finds your pet can scan the QR or search the IAGD number and reach you in minutes. Government registration data is not exposed to strangers in the same way for privacy reasons.
- Cross-LGU continuity. Move from Quezon City to Cebu and your LGU registration starts over. The IAGD record follows the pet.
- Vet handovers. A new vet can read the full history from the digital vax card immediately, without you digging through paper.
- Pedigree verification. For breeding, stud service, or pedigree-aware sale, an IAGD record carries the lineage with the animal.
- Backup of paper documents. Photo-attach your LGU registration certificate, rabies certificate, and VHC inside your IAGD profile and they are with you whenever your phone is.
When you still need government documents
Anywhere a Philippine law or agency requires a document. The shortlist:
- LGU registration and rabies vaccination, for dog ownership. (RA 9482)
- BAI Veterinary Health Certificate, for domestic and international transport.
- BAI export or import permit and international health certificate, for any international move.
- DTI/SEC, BIR, LGU mayor's permit, and BAI registration, if you run a kennel, pet shop, or breeding operation.
- Animal Bite Treatment Center records, for any bite-related medical or legal follow-up.
Common questions
I have an IAGD profile. Do I still need to register my dog with my LGU?
Yes. RA 9482 is unambiguous on this. Use IAGD as your continuity layer; use the LGU as your compliance.
Can I show the IAGD digital vax card at the airport?
For information, yes. For boarding, no. The airline and BAI inspectors want the signed paper rabies certificate and the BAI VHC. Bring those.
If my pet has an IAGD QR tag, do I still need an LGU tag?
Yes if the LGU issues one. The two tags serve different purposes. The LGU tag proves registration. The IAGD tag carries the digital profile.
Is IAGD recognized by BAI?
IAGD is a private registry. It is not an arm of BAI. BAI's documents and IAGD's records exist in parallel, not as substitutes.
Should I upload my LGU registration and rabies certificate to IAGD?
That is a useful practice. Keep the originals safe at home and the photos in your IAGD profile for quick reference on the road.
Bottom line
Use IAGD as a layer on top of government compliance, not as a replacement. Register your dog with your LGU. Vaccinate against rabies. Get a BAI VHC when you travel. Keep IAGD updated alongside. The two together cover both the legal requirements and the practical realities of pet ownership in the Philippines.
To install the IAGD SuperApp, see the download page.