Not
quite what I fully had in mind for dog control, but from 6 April 2016,
every dog of 8 weeks and over in England and Scotland will have to be microchipped (already law in Wales); a law which the
Government says will help reunite people with their lost or stolen
pets, and to track down the owners of vicious or illegal dogs.
Dogs
will need to be microchipped and registered with their keepers’
contact details; the only exemption would be when a vet has certified
that a dog is 'unfit' to be microchipped. All keepers, including
breeders, will be required to keep details up to date.
Will help reunite owners & lost pets.
The
microchip, approximately the size of a grain of rice, will be
officially registered within an approved microchip database, which
will hold up-to-date information about the dog and its owner's
contact details.
Before
the new requirements come into effect, pet owners or keepers will be
able to get their dogs microchipped free of charge in a number of
places. Many vets are offering free microchipping, as are animal
welfare organisations and some local authorities.
Once
the new rules come into effect, if a dog without a microchip comes to
the attention of the authorities, its keeper will be served a
notice requiring the dog to be microchipped, and may face criminal
prosecution and a £500 fine if they do not comply with the notice!
I
advise you refer to the Pet Owners Association's website for further
advice, or go to your vet, if your dog isn't yet microchipped.
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