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 Vets may scan and report any missing or out of date chips, but they are not obliged to do so.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.