If your buddy wanders off without telling you, a microchip offers the best chance of getting them home safely. Here’s how microchipping can help reunite you…
Why Microchip Your Pet?
If your buddy spots an open door and makes a break for it - without their collar - a microchip can help get them back home safe and sound. If they’re picked up by a friendly human and taken to the nearest vet, they’ll need some sort of identification to be able to help.
A microchip is a tiny computer chip about the size of a grain of rice, that contains a unique code that matches up to your pet’s details. When the vet scans this, they can find your name, address, and mobile number in the microchip registry, then can give you a call to collect your furry escape artist.
A Legal Requirement For Dogs. A Good Idea For the Rest of the Crew...
All dogs in the UK must now have a registered microchip before they’re 8 weeks old. At the last count, 8 million dogs are now chipped; that’s 95% of the UK pooch population!
In March 2023, new legislation came to pass that all newborn cats must be microchipped before they reach 20 weeks of age. While for existing cat owners, you will need to have your cat microchipped by 10th June 2024. If you're found not to have microchipped your cat after this date, you'll have 21 days to have your cat chipped or possibly face a fine of up to £500.
Local councils have issued almost 3,000 enforcement notices to dog owners where either the dog didn’t have a chip, or the info stored on it was out of date. Owners in the doghouse have been bitten with an average fine of £340 (ouch), or a maximum penalty of £500.
But there’s more to it than staying on the right side of the law. Due to these enforcements on microchipping dogs, over 43,000 strays were reunited with their happy humans in 2015-16 - and an estimated 20% were down to microchipping.
Going without just isn’t an option. 1-in-8 stray dogs in kennels are there either because they don’t have a microchip or because the details on the chip are out of date. Dogs Trust says that 12 dogs each day are at risk of being put down because of this - so don’t let this ever be a possibility for your buddy!
And it’s not just about dogs. Cats and rabbits are more than capable of going on extended walkies - and there’s the possibility of pet theft to think about, too. So long as the vet says there’s no medical reason why it shouldn’t be done, cats and rabbits can also be chipped, so make sure the whole crew is protected.
Getting Your Buddy Chipped: What’s Involved?
Breeders are responsible for microchipping puppies. So whether they're just a pup or a full-grown pooch, your furry friend should already be chipped when you adopt him. There are a few different pet databases out there - so make sure you get confirmation of which one he’s with, and the ID number (this should be on an email or confirmation letter).
- Not sure if your new buddy is chipped? Simple: take them to a vet to be scanned.
- Keep the chip details updated! This applies if you’re the new owner, or if you change your address or contact details. If the info on your dog's microchip is incorrect, as the owner you could be fined.
- Does chipping hurt? Not really, it’s just like having an injection. A needle is placed under the skin (usually between the shoulder blades) to deliver a tiny chip which stays there for life. Chances are, your buddy will barely even blink!
Did You Know?
Tons of vets will carry out microchipping for less than £20, and in some areas, the council actually runs free dog microchipping services! So there’s no excuse not to give your pet the protection they deserve.
Everypaw Dog Insurance
Everypaw's Dog Insurance comes with 24/7 unlimited access to vets and vet nurses that can help with your pet's health, care, nutrition and behaviour. So you can rest assured your pup will be well looked after.