Microchips for Dogs - Good Idea or Not

[pdq1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17797194

If the intention was to cut down on the number of savage attacks by all breeds of dog wouldn't a better solution be to have all dogs muzzled in public?

[woofgang]

so how will you define them?

[pdq1]

I sense another tax coming along. They tax our cars, our houses, green issues and work and have run out of ideas. Adding VAT to caravans won't provide enough. The £35 is just a starter expecxt to increase by inflation + x

[FredPuli43]

It'll prove to be like dog licences. Nearly everyone had to have a licence for each dog they owned, but only the law-abiding bothered to buy licences and pay the 7/6 (I think it was) for each.

[jackthehat]

As I'm not a vet........I won't be doing any defining.

I'll leave that to others more qualified.

[tara20]

My dog is chipped and registered. In public he has to be on a lead, or off the lead, muzzled. Public transport or in crowded areas - lead and muzzle.
Spot checks are made from time to time to make sure he's chipped.
Accidents still happen, but mostly at home or in the neighbourhood with dogs

[woofgang]

But its easy....it doesn't address the basic issues of animal welfare, gotta have it now and damn the consequences attitudes, breeding for profit, antisocial behaviour...I could go on...but it is easy.....

[tara20]

That are well known. ( sorry, hit submit too soon!)

[woofgang]

cop out j t h...there is no way of defining.

[woofgang]

this is a banned breed in the uk
http://petbulls.livejournal.com/5698313.html

[jackthehat]

Only if you don't want there to be.

There are animals which can only be classified via blood-tests.......as they have been cross-bred to circumnavigate existing laws. These dogs are out in society and it is not until 'something' happens that investigations are made as to the true 'identity' of the creature.
Perhaps these proposals (because the pups will need to be seen by a vet shortly after birth) will cause the nastier breeds to die out....

[jackthehat]

Quite right, too.

[woofgang]

but the pups WONT need to be seen by a vet, the breeder just wont take them...and when they cant breed staffies, the will breed killer labradors.

[ChuckFickens]

"Quite right, too"

Actually pit bulls are generally lovely dogs, it's the idiot owners that buy them to look hard and train them to be aggressive that should be banned from keeping dogs.

You could train a chiwawa to be aggressive if somebody wanted to.

[jackthehat]

To be chipped and legal the breeder *will*.

Doubtless there will be breeders who *won't*, but the subsequent loss of their animals and income may give them pause for thought.

Is it possible to breed killer labradors?

[tara20]

It's up to the owner to make sure the dog is chipped. No chip means a fine if caught without.

[woofgang]

how will they subsequently lose their animals?

[jackthehat]

Confiscation/destruction..........which won't bother them half so much as the loss of an undeclared revenue stream!

[woofgang]

if caught tara, that's the key bit...we cant even stop people carrying guns and knives...

[B00]

Not sure id be entirely happy using police resources being used to scour the streets for chavs and their dogs either.

[jackthehat]

I think you might spot someone carrying a pit-bull, though.........!