As of April 2016 it will be a legal requirement that your pet dog in the UK has a Microchip. Great news (not sure why not the same for cats though!?) especially as a 2014 Dogs Trust survey reported that 10,000 dogs a year are reunited with their owners in the UK through their microchips.
Which makes it amazing (or not if you take the view that they allow any Tom, Dick or Idiot to own a pet) that current research says that 20% of owners are unprepared for the April legal change, and a staggering 45% of dogs remain unchipped.
Key elements of the law are:
- All dogs must be chipped and registered with a recognised database by April 6.
- If an animal is not microchipped its owners could face a fine of up to £500.
- All breeders must microchip their puppies by eight-weeks-old and before they are transferred to a new keeper, who will be responsible for updating it with their details.
The Blue Cross offers a free microchipping service for cats and dogs. Call the centre on 0300 777 1530 or visit bluecross.org.uk.
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Really don’t understand why people don’t get their dogs chipped. Mine were all done as soon as they were big enough.
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