Microchipping your dog

Where can I get my dog microchipped?

• You can contact your local vets
• You can contact some rescue centres
• www.chipmydog.org.uk

How much will it cost to get my dog microchipped?

Microchipping generally costs between £10 and £20 at the vets.

How do I update my dogs microchips details

Go to www.petchipupdate.com/ - you will need your pets microchip registration number that is on the documentation you were given when the chip was inserted.

So what is the legislation?

It is now law that every dog in England, Scotland and Wales is required to be microchipped. Compulsory microchipping has already been in place in Northern Ireland since 2012.

The legislation is primarily designed to make it easier for lost pets to be reunited with their keepers, but it will also make it easier to identify dogs that are involved in incidents and trace them back to an individual who might then be held to account. According to the new legislation, all dogs over the age of 8 weeks will need to be micro chipped. In order for microchips to be compliant with the new law, the details linked to them must be registered on an approved database and kept up to date by all dog keepers, including breeders.

Anyone who doesn't have their dog micro chipped by April 6th will have 21 days to comply or may face a penalty fine of up to £500.

What do you need to do as a dog owner?

If your dog is found not to be micro chipped, you'll be given 21 day to have the procedure done. If you fail to get your dog micro chipped in this time you may face a penalty of £500 or have your dog removed by a warden who will arrange the procedure and pass on the costs to you.

Microchipping is an excellent deterrent against animal theft and cruelty, and can help reunite lost dogs with their keepers, but like many things microchips are only as useful as the information recorded on them. A lost dog with outdated information linked to its microchip is as good as a dog with no microchip at all, and the new legislation is taking this seriously. In order for you and your dog to be compliant with the law, it'll be your responsibility to ensure that the information associated with your dog's microchip is up to date, including your address and contact details.

Your dog can be micro chipped by your local vet, or you might be able to get the procedure done for free with companies such as Dogs Trust who are offering a subsidised microchipping service to help get dogs on official records.

It is against the law for a dog to be in a public place if not wearing a collar and identification with it's owners name and address on it. Failure to do so may result in a maximum fine of £5000. In addition, by 2016 every dog owner will have to microchip their dog.

What's a microchip?

A microchip is a tiny device, slightly bigger than a grain of rice, which is implanted under the skin on the back of a pet's neck, just in front of the shoulder blades. Each microchip has a unique number which can be read with a scanner. This number matches a record on a database which contains the owner's contact details so that they can be contacted straightaway and reunited with their pet.

How's it done and does it hurt?

A special device is used to inject the microchip under the skin. It's a quick procedure that shouldn't hurt any more than a regular vaccination.

Why is microchipping so important?

If an animal is found to have a microchip, the dog warden or local veterinary centre will contact a national database to find the owner's details. The owner can then be contacted and reunited with their dog. However, it is important that you update your dogs registered details if they change, such as moving house. 

Last updated Tuesday, 16th April 2019