Microchipping

Microchipping for dogs and cats

Ensure your pet is permanently identifiable with microchipping; it gives you the best chance of being reunited with a pet which has gone missing.

Millions of pets are lost or stolen each year; sadly not all are reunited back with their owners. Some end up in shelters and are given to adopt out to new homes, others are never found.

Although law requires collars and tags, they can fall off or be even taken off your dog or cat. Microchipping on the other hand provides a permanent method of identifying your pet, in-turn offering the best chance of it being returned if it goes missing.

Updating your cat or dogs microchip details

Many dog and cat owners move home and forget to notify the microchip database with their new contact details. If you move home or change telephone numbers you must remember to update your dog’s microchip information otherwise the microchip is useless.

Updating your dog’s microchip can be done online, by telephone or post; this depends on which database your microchip is registered to. Charges for updating your details vary throughout the microchip databases.

You need to know which microchipping database your pet is registered with in the UK. Then you can contact them directly to make any necessary changes.

Does microchipping hurt pets?

Microchipping is a similar process to getting injections, very little or no pain is generally experienced, most dogs and cats don’t feel it being implanted.

How are dog owners traced?

When a stray dog or cat is found, the local authority, vet practice or animal welfare organisation will contact the national database to find the owner’s details. Then get in touch with the owner to re-unite them and their pet.

Microchipping – the new law

Microchipping is now compulsory for all dog owners in England. All dogs after this must be microchipped and registered to an approved database by the time they are 8 weeks old.

If an owner of a dog, which has not been microchipped, is served with a notice they will have 21 days in which to get the dog chipped.

Under the new regulations, if any keeper moves, changes telephone numbers etc. Then the dog is no longer considered microchipped and enforcement can be taken and a notice served. If the keeper does NOT keep their details up to date within 21 days of the served notice, you will be liable for a fine of £500.

Does the new law with microchipping replace the collar and tag law?

No, dogs and cats will still need to wear a collar and tag with the name and address of the owner.

Contact details for the UK Microchip Databases

Anibase pet database

https://www.anibase.com/updating_your_details

Pet Identity UK

http://www.petidentityuk.info/

Petlog

https://www.petlog.org.uk/

Petprotect

http://microchip.petprotect.co.uk/

PETtrac

http://www.pettrac.co.uk/

SmartTrac

http://www.smarttrac.org.uk/