In the news recently there was an item regarding the compulsory micro-chipping of all dogs in England. The government are hoping it will help cut the growing number of strays. Every dog owner will need to comply with this by 6th April 2016 and anyone that doesn’t could face fines of up to £500.
At Cherrydown we think it’s important for cats and dogs to be chipped so if you haven’t already done so you should seriously consider it. If your pet gets lost they could end up in an animal welfare shelter. Normally the staff at the centre will scan the animal to check for a microchip. If they find one the owner will be contacted and will be reunitedwith their pet.
What is Micro-chipping?
The microchip (geek fact – also known as a RFID – Radio Frequency Identification Device) was introduced in 1989 and is the most effective way of permanently identifying a pet. It’s about the size of a grain of rice and contains your information about your pet and your contact details. The chip is inserted between the shoulder blades of a dog using a sterile needle. The procedure only takes a few seconds and the dog doesn’t need to be anesthetised as it is no more painful than having a vaccination. Once inside the chip fuses with the dog’s bodily tissue to ensure it doesn’t move around.
At Cherrydown vets we choose to use Petlog, the UK’s largest Microchip Registration and Reunification Database, as we want to ensure our Clients and their pets get the best possible service.
After 6th April 2016 it will be down to the local authority and the police to enforce the law and vets will no doubt be regularly reminding dog owners to get their pet chipped.
As always, if you have any questions about this subject or if you would like to get your pet micro-chipped please call us at the clinic. Alternatively, you can post your question on our Facebook page.
