Torridge District Council reminds pet owners to 'check the chip' after spate of stray dogs without microchips and tags

Torridge District Council is reminding pet owners to make sure their pet is fitted with a microchip and is wearing a collar and tag when out of the house.  In the past few months, the Neighbourhood Team has picked up an increasing number of dogs that don't have tags or microchips as required by government legislation.

Fortunately, the team has been lucky in reuniting these loved dogs with their owners.  However, it is a legal requirement for every dog to have an up-to-date microchip with the dog's details uploaded to an approved UK database. Breeders must also ensure that their puppies are microchipped before they are allowed to leave for their new home.  Failure to register your dog or cat could result in a fine of up to £500.

Even if your dog is microchipped, you MUST still ensure that it is provided with a collar and tag bearing the name and contact details of the owner. Failure to do so is also an offence and you can be fined up to £5,000 if your dog is in a public place without this information.

The microchips in use in the UK are passive devices no bigger than a grain of rice and, once in place, can be easily scanned by a hand-held reader. The 15-digit identification code can then be checked against the microchip databases to quickly identify the legal owner and the address currently registered to the chip. Microchipping is a relatively simple process undertaken by all veterinary surgeons or anyone trained to carry out the procedure, which is no more uncomfortable than a standard vaccination injection.

Councillor Philip Hackett, Lead Member for Public Health and Community Safety, Torridge District Council, said:

"Microchipping a cat or dog is a permanent way of identifying your pet if they get lost or stolen - so it's vital that pet owners ensure that their pet is microchipped and that details on the chip are up to date.  A lost pet can be distressing for both the animal and the owner. If your pet does go missing, our officers can scan the microchip and get them home safely."

If you have found a stray dog, please either contact the owner, if details are available, or contact the Environmental Protection team on 01237 428700 between 9.00am and 4.00pm. For more information, please visit www.torridge.gov.uk.

Nov 25