The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has introduced a bill on March 31 to strengthen responsible dog ownership. All owners will have to register their contact details in a government database along with the microchip number, colour, and name of their furry friends. Replacing the previous lifetime registration system, the government wants those details reconfirmed annually. Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel said the main benefit is that it will enable animal services to use it as a search engine to return lost dogs to their families more quickly. “Owners rarely tell the government when they change address or phone number, transfer their dog’s ownership to someone else, or their pet passes away. This can be a particular problem when dog attacks unfortunately happen, or there is concern about dangerous dogs,” Steel said in a statement. It will also help animal services understand the state’s dog population and where …