Compulsory microchipping for all dogs in UK from 6 April

[Anthea]

Compulsory microchipping for all dogs in UK to be enforced from April 6

From April 6 it will be illegal to own a dog aged eight weeks or older in England, Wales and Scotland that is not microchipped.

Owners will face a fine of up to £500 if caught and with more than one in ten dogs not microchipped, the potential fine total will reach £580 million. 1.16 million dogs are thought to have still not been microchipped despite a 70 percent increase in pet microchipping within the last month.

"Any dog owner with an un-microchipped pet now faces a significant fine, but it is our advice to avoid this completely and comply with the law," said Dr Huw Stacey, director of clinical services at Vets4Pets.

"The importance of a microchip shouldn't be underestimated. It can be the difference between a lost dog being returned to their owner or simply being lost forever."

"Reuniting dogs with their rightful owner is just one of a number of reasons why the microchipping law has been introduced."

"It is also designed to encourage responsible dog ownership."

A microchip is the size of a grain of rice and insertion is a very simple procedure. Each microchip has a unique 15 digit code to identify the dog's owner and lasts for the pet's lifetime. Details are stored on one of seven databases which is accessible to vets, dog wardens and the police.

Petlog is the UK's largest lost and found database for microchipped pets, managed by the Kennel Club. They found more than 60,000 reported missing dogs over a ten year period. 75 percent of those dogs were reunited with their owners due to their microchips.

But pets can only be returned to their owners provided contact details are kept up to date. Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: "Pet owners need to treat their pet's microchip information with the utmost importance."

"If the contact details are not updated, the task of returning a pet to its owner becomes almost impossible."

"Moving house, changing a mobile number or changing an email address are common ways a lost pet can lose permanent contact with its owner."

£57 million is spent each year by local authorities and welfare charities on kennelling costs, but more than 50% of un-microchipped dogs cannot be returned home. This sadly results in approximately 6,000 dogs being put down because owners cannot be located.

Figures from Northern Ireland, which implemented a similar law in 2012, suggest microchipping has had a positive impact and has seen the number of stray dogs reduced.

Dr Stacey added: "The number of lost or stray dogs has reduced gradually since 2012, providing evidence that the microchipping law is working."

"Although it's not compulsory, owners of cats and rabbits are strongly advised to also microchip their pet."

"But right now it's dog owners that need to comply with the law and we would urge anyone who is unsure if their pet is microchipped to visit their local vets to check."

Having a beloved pet microchipped is extremely beneficial, as these stories of lost dogs found again thanks to their microchips show:

Hamish, a lurcher, was lost in an unfamiliar location, but found within 24 hours

Hamish, a two-year-old lurcher, was staying with his owner at a relative's house in Buckinghamshire when he escaped from the garden.

Louisa North, Hamish's owner, along with relatives and their neighbours searched for many hours long into the night, without success.

The next day, despite further searches, Hamish had still not been found and Louisa's worst fears about losing him were beginning to materialise.

Luckily Louisa, from Herefordshire, remembered that Hamish was microchipped and called the database that held his details – Petlog.

A quick phone call led to a tearful Louisa declaring to her family and friends that her beloved lurcher had been found safe and well.

He had actually been found not long after escaping and taken to the Vets4Pets practice in Buckingham.

Once at the surgery Hamish was scanned for a microchip and Louisa's details immediately came up, unfortunately as she wasn't at home the vet, Maggie O'Doherty, was unable to reunite them that evening.

But the fact he had been found was registered on Petlog's database, meaning he was fast on the way to being reunited with Louisa.

Within an hour of the phone call from Louisa to Petlog and the two were reunited in a tearful embrace at the Buckingham Vets4Pets practice.

"Hamish had enjoyed a good meal, warm bed and excellent hospitality at Vets4Pets Buckingham, he almost didn't want to come with me," said Louisa.

"I was so worried about losing him, but in reality the microchip, the couple who found him and Maggie meant he was only lost for about 24 hours.

"I'm so glad I invested in the microchip as I don't know what I would have done if I'd never seen him again.

"And thanks to the expert care and professionalism from Maggie and the team at Vets4Pets Buckingham, he was none the worse for being away from me.

Maggie, owner and veterinary surgeon at Vets4Pets Buckingham, said: "So many dogs are lost each year because they aren't microchipped.

"The new law is aimed at allowing thousands of lost dogs like Hamish to be reunited with their owners. Dog owners should not be worried about it either, it's a quick and simple procedure very similar to a vaccination injection."

Murphy, a Siberian husky, was stolen from his owners, but returned after three months

Murphy, a four-year-old Siberian husky, was walking with his owner, Andy Smith, when he slipped his collar and disappeared in 2014.

Andy, from Bradford, was told by his neighbours that they had seen Murphy being put into the back of a van.

With no idea who had taken Murphy or where they had gone, Andy was devastated and feared he may never see his beloved dog again.

Despite appeals on media and a Facebook campaign, there was no news of Murphy until Andy was contacted by a RSPCA centre in Manchester three months later.

The centre had taken a dog in because a family said they could no longer look after him. The RSPCA scanned the dog for a microchip and his details were registered to Andy.

Murphy had finally been found and he and Andy were reunited after three months apart.

"Losing Murphy for those three months was one of the worst experiences of my life, he genuinely is a real member of the family," said Andy.

"When I heard he was stolen, I feared the worst. He's such a good looking dog, the people who stole him must've thought they could sell him on for a lot of money.

"In the months he was missing, I was so worried, I ended up losing my job because I couldn't concentrate and I even lost two stone in weight.

"My family were so devastated, but we didn't want to give up hope and that's why we created the Facebook page to help track him down. The 'Murphy's Army' page now raises awareness of microchipping and helps reunite lost or stolen pets with their owners.

"Microchipping dogs is so important, I was lucky that Murphy was not lost forever.

"I would advise all dog owners to get their pet microchipped as you never know when it could help reunite you and your pet."

Pixie, a cocker spaniel, went missing on a walk, but was returned after 24 hours

Pixie, a three-year-old cocker spaniel, was out enjoying a walk with her owner, when she was spooked by a car and ran away.

With no clue as to where Pixie had gone, her owner, Pippa Simpson, searched the surrounding area for hours but found no trace.

Pippa, from Barnsley, then called all the local dog wardens to see if Pixie had been brought in, but was devastated to learn that no one had found her.

After 24 hours, Pippa was ready to give up and accept that she would never see her beloved Pixie again.

But the next day Pippa received a phone call from a dog warden to say Pixie had been brought in to them.

Pixie was found wandering alone and taken to the dog warden, where she was scanned for a microchip, revealing her identity, home and owner.

"I was so scared when Pixie ran away on our walk, she bolted away so quickly, there was no way we could have kept up with her," said Pippa.

"When we rang the dog wardens and no one had brought her in, I started to believe we would never she her again; it broke my heart.

"That phone call from the dog warden to say they had her was such a huge and happy relief.

"I breed cocker spaniels and make sure all puppies are microchipped by the age of seven weeks, because I understand how important it is to dog welfare.

"All breeders should be responsible for microchipping the puppies they bring into the world, before they sell them on to their new owners.

"The new microchipping legislation is wonderful and I would fully recommend microchipping to any dog owner out there. Without microchipping, Pixie and I may have never been reunited."

Echo, a shih tzu, escaped from his garden, but was returned within a few hours

Rebecca Latter, from Royston, Barnsley, was sleeping when her son let Echo, their thee-month-old shih tzu, out into the garden.

Echo managed to dig away at a small hole in the bottom corner of the garden and escape into the neighbour's garden.

The neighbours had recently moved into the area and so did not recognise Echo or know who he belonged to.

They decided to take him down to the local vets where he was scanned for a microchip and Rebecca's details were revealed.

Rebecca awoke to the neighbours knocking on her door returning Echo safe and sound, only a couple of hours after he went missing.

"Echo escaped, was taken to the vets and returned so quickly, all whilst I was sleeping, so I was actually unaware he had gone missing," said Rebecca.

"Luckily because I hadn't realised he had disappeared I was spared all the worry and fear, but it clearly demonstrates that microchipping works.

"Echo is such a small dog and he was only a few months old. If I had known that he was missing I would've been terrified about what would happen to him.

"I am licensed to microchip dogs and run my own mobile microchipping business, so I am fully aware of what an important part of dog welfare microchipping is.

"Before Echo turned eight-weeks-old I was advised by the wonderful and dedicated team at Wilthorpe Road Vets4Pets to microchip him.

"Without their help and advice he may never have been returned to me, so I can't thank them enough.

"My experience shows how efficiently a lost dog can be reunited with their owners if it is microchipped. I would always recommend microchipping to every dog owner."

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