OCTOBER 2023
Microchipping Your Pet
Microchipping our pets is one of the best things we can do to ensure they are given the best chance of being reunited if ever they go missing. Microchipping technology has been around for almost 40 years, and is one of the most important technological developments in the history of animal welfare. Smaller than a grain of rice, a microchip implant helps identify an animal and from that, it can help reunite a pet with its owner. It is not known who invented the system but it was first used around 1983 for measuring fish migrations, and then broadened to almost all animals over the next couple of decades. Here we go into more depth and explain further on the benefits of microchipping, and signposting pet owners to other organisations for advice.
What is Microchipping?
The Microchipping of Dogs Act 2015 was introduced to make it a legal requirement for a breeder to microchip a dog before they are sold.
The microchip implant (about the size of a grain of rice) is put in between the dog’s shoulder blades under loose skin by a trained professional, which is usually a vet and is there for life. They do not feel anything and it is quick and safe. Each microchip has a unique code that can only be read by a microchip scanner. The code is then kept on a database which gives information on the dog owner such as their name and address. Please be reassured that your personal information is safe when you microchip your pet as only the unique identification number is stored on the chip and not the owners’ details.
Microchipping your dog is straightforward and will help get them back if they go missing. It is now a legal requirement to have any dog over the age of eight weeks microchipped in England and Wales.
Your local veterinary practice can microchip your dog but some organisations and charity events offer microchipping for free. Breeders must also register their details on the database so it is important to ensure they are microchipped before taking them home. If you are moving house or have a change of details, you must contact the database the details are logged with such as Petlog or Identibase either online or by telephone. There are many other databases out there but you must ensure they meet government standards.
Scam Websites
Beware of scammers as there have been adverts claiming to register pets to a national microchip database called UK Pet Chip Registry under a google search for ‘pet microchipping’. Please double check the website to make sure they comply but if you are unsure, contact your vet for advice. To find out if your dog is microchipped or want to know the microchip number you can take them to a vet and have them scanned. Once you have the number, you can use a chip checker online to find out who they are registered with.
Did you know that if you don’t update the database if your details change, you could be hit with a £500 fine! In addition, if your dog isn’t microchipped and registered on an approved database, you can be served with a notice and have 21 days to get them microchipped or you may also have to pay a hefty fine.
Microchips sometimes fail to work such as if it moves along the body, or if in rare cases, the pet may have an adverse reaction. If so, you should report it to the ‘Microchip adverse reporting scheme’ The RSPCA have lots of advice on their website and they have a YouTube video called CHIP’n’CHECK - all about microchipping your dog.
What does it mean when a microchip is not registered?
We have often wondered why there are so many dogs found with their microchip unregistered. For the microchip to work, it MUST be registered on a reputable database. Without registration, the chip is useless. An unregistered microchip is almost impossible to trace back to the owner. If a dog is found as a stray and taken to the council pound to do their seven days, they may not have the time or resources to trace the owners and the outcome may not be a happy ending for the dog. Only recently in the media a dog was found as a stray and was microchipped but was not registered. The dog was eventually rehomed from a rescue. However, the original owner came forwards and said they thought the dog was registered. Rehoming in these circumstances is legally allowed if the microchip is not registered and the dog is unclaimed within seven days with the warden.
A Fortnight of Fireworks
During the two weeks between Oct 28 and Nov 11 in 2021, the Kennel Club’s microchipping programme Petlog alone saw a 34 per cent increase in lost dogs with 150 going missing. The following fortnight after that, 112 dogs were also labelled as missing. Apart from pets, horses and farm animals also suffer this time of year.
With Halloween and Bonfire night approaching it is a good idea to check that your dog’s microchip details are up to date by taking them to the vet to be scanned. It is a scary time for most dogs who get spooked easily. They will do anything to find a way to escape from the noise and it is in their nature to just keep running for miles. To be doubly sure, if your dog isn’t wearing a collar with an ID tag, now is the best time to get one. According to the Kennel Club, the tag must have the owners’ details and NOT the dog’s name on it.
Routine Checks
Sadly there are many missing microchipped dogs who are never reunited with their owners. Currently it is only optional to scan and check microchip registration. Vets and other authorities including rescues do not routinely check a dog and their keeper on the database. For example, when a dog is brought in for a first consultation with their new keepers or when they have a routine check-up. This would greatly improve the chances of many dogs being reunited with their owners and will help ‘sold on’ and ‘kept missing dogs’, cats and horses get home. After all, a microchip is useless to a stolen or missing pet if not checked!
Fern’s Law
Fern’s law was debated in Parliament around the same time as ‘Reggie’s law’ and was created to make it compulsory to scan & check microchips to reunite stolen dogs and cats. Fern, a spaniel, was stolen from her home in 2013 and wasn’t reunited with her family until 2019. During that time Fern was used for breeding and it was found that she visited the vet but, as scanning isn’t compulsory, the truth was never identified. She was eventually abandoned when no longer useful and taken to another vet who scanned her. Only then did she finally find her family.
Being separated from your pet for whatever reason is devastating but microchipping your dog can help get you both reunited quickly. Our thoughts are with those whose pets are still missing but please don’t give up hope. We hope this blog goes some way to providing more information and dispelling some myths on microchipping. Best wishes from Team Justice for Reggie.
