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?

[tara20]

Yes, woofgang, but as i said they make spot checks with police and a vet in places where people take their dogs.

[ChuckFickens]

"Is it possible to breed killer labradors"

Not so much breed, but yes a badly brought up and/or trained Labrador can be a very dangerous dog, they are a large powerful breed and can do a lot of damage.

It's a little off topic, but I think the dangerous dog act singling out breeds is a little stupid, it results in perfectly healthy, friendly and well trained dogs of one breed being put down while an aggressive and dangerous dog of another breed is allowed. the term dangerous dog should be based on what the dogs like, not what breed it is.

[woofgang]

tara you are obviously a caring law abiding owner....

[petal54]

I agree to a degree LL,people also should be 'chipped',this may be too Big Brother

[lankeela]

The price quoted of £35 is what some vets charge. I am a qualified microchipper and charge £10 to microchip and some animal charities do it for free or subsidised. If all dogs were microchipped (or tattoed, I prefer a choice) then any dogs not chipped could be confiscated and either rehomed or destroyed if not suitable for rehoming. 58% of dogs in this country are already microchipped. Big problem is people forgetting to update their details with the microchip registry. If the breeders had to stay on the database and be responsible for dogs they bred if current owners could not be found that might help to make them more responsible as to where they let their puppies go. Yes it will be the responsible ones who do it, and no it won't stop dog attacks but it might make people think before buying a puppy if it is not chipped. It will happen, its just whether the public will take it on board.

[woofgang]

lankeela there is already a rehoming problem with rescues stuffed to the gills, what you are suggesting is that law abiding ownerw will fund a dog mountain of destroyed dogs. I absolutely think that microchipping dogs is a good thing, my own are chipped, just do not see how it will help the current situation regarding byb dogs and non law abiding owners. there is also currently a charge for getting details changed by an owner unless they upgrade to the premium service, its not just forgetting, its not wanting to pay or not being able to afford.

[jackthehat]

Of course it is perfectly possible to 'train' aggression into almost any dog, chuck.

The Law cannot allow for each and every dog to undergo psychoanalysis to determine whether it is dangerous, or not. The Law can only try and define which dogs have a propensity to be aggressive and given the size and strength of the 'breed' could be considered to be a danger to the public.

[lankeela]

I fully agree woofgang, you may have seen my recent posts re dogs in pounds in danger of being pts if no places are found for them. It may be a pipe dream but I would like to think if it became more commonplace that the public would begin to demand only microchipped puppies. It would be a start. (And there are tracking systems that can be used for dogs, but they are very expensive and cumbersome.)

[woofgang]

indeed lankeela there are tracking systems but not injectable ones

[chaptazbru]

Why should all dogs be muzzled in public - not all dogs are dangerous. It's like saying all men are rapists, load of rubbish !!! Agree with the comments on here, only the law abiding amongst us will pay out for anything that has to be paid for, but the yobs and thugs who don't look after their pets and who want them to be vicious, won't give a toss !! Don't know what the answer is really, but don't see why my lovely, friendly boy who hasn't got a nasty bone in his body, should be penalised. There are plenty of humans I'd like to see muzzled though !

[sandyRoe]

It's already compulsory here in N Ireland. Though I haven't got around to having my wee dog chipped yet. It probably is a good idea but I can't see the thugs who use dogs as weapons will be rushing to get their dogs marked with something that could incriminate them.

[ladybirder]

All dogs to be microchipped - Yes.
All dogs to be muzzled - No.