Dog Microchipping Legislation For England - 6Th April 2016

[Peaspeculiars]

Hi All,

In case you weren't aware, and to hopefully get the message out to your friends whom in England who own a dog and haven't had it micro-chipped yet, new legislation comes in on 6th April 2016 for ALL dogs in England to be micro-chipped.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-animal-welfare/2010-to-2015-government-policy-animal-welfare

So please ensure all your dogs are both chipped and your details up to date. Vets may scan and report any missing or out of date chips, but they are not obliged to do so. For lost dogs, if found, you may have to pay £500 to get them back if they are not chipped or your details are old.

The Dogs Trust and many places are currently doing free micro-chipping and year round there are always low cost or free chipping from other rescues, so please pass on the word to your friends & neighbours who own a dog.

Also to note - Breeders will have to microchip all puppies at between 6-8 weeks old and are responsible for updating their details to yours upon sale - if you are going to buy a puppy and it isn't micro-chipped, don't buy it - there should be a clear record of ownership from the dogs birth (eventually) and if that little bundle of fluff grows up to be a dangerous breed of dog and your name is the first on the micro-chip, you may find yourself in a spot of bother as there will be no proof who the original breeder was.....

I'm so pleased this legislation is coming in as I follow a group of local city dog wardens who are always amazed at the amount of dogs they pick up as strays who don't have a chip and they can't trace the owner. Hopefully it should reduce the amount of stray dogs in rescues and dogs dumped and mistreated.

[TWR]

More dogs on the street Peas?

[Brickbat22]

My dog is microchipped but I did not know that they became out of date. I thought the chip lasted for life.

[Baldric]

///What You Should Know About Microchips

Microchips are designed to last for the life of a dog. They do not need to be charged or replaced.///

http://dogs.about.com/od/toyssupplies/a/microchipping.htm

[RATTER15]

It became law in Wales earlier this year, ours were done as pups.

[Ratty2E]

I think the OP means 'out of date' as in the details i.e if you move house etc. It's always worth getting the vet to give your dog a scan every now and then just to check the chip is still working and that it's still where it should be.

[Baldric]

Ratty2e, just for the record I was responding to Brickbat, I think the OP's meaning was clear enough

[viv41]

How do you think it will reduce the amount of mistreated dogs ?

[Zacs-Master]

My dog is 12 and is always under my control when we're out and about. I'm afraid I won't be getting him chipped. It's just another rule for the masses to account for the irresponsibility of the minority. In this case, idiots who really shouldn't have dogs.

[viv41]

And those cruel idiots Zac will be the ones who will NEVER microchip their dogs, too hard to police imo.

[lankeela]

The Iaw in WaIes did not come into force this year, it is now coming into force the same time as EngIand in ApriI 2016. As someone invoIved with DogIost you wouId be amazed how many dogs cannot be reunited with their owners because of Iack of microchip or up to date detaiIs. Microchipping is not painfuI or dangerous and couId mean the difference between Iife and death as so many strays are put to sIeep because they cannot be reunited and nobody wants them. Why wouId you not want to protect your pet?