Remember To Get Your Dog Microchipped

The Council’s Public Protection Service is raising awareness in Gwynedd that national rules regarding the chipping and tagging of dogs is being strengthened. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

From 6 April 2016 onwards, every dog of eight weeks old and older must be microchipped and their owner’s details must be registered. Dog owners who have not had their pet chipped by 6 April may face a £500 fine. This does not change the legal requirement that dogs must wear a collar with a tag, which includes the owner’s contact details, when out in a public place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Dafydd Meurig, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member who is responsible for public protection matters said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Dog owners have a responsibility for their pets and to the wider public. The new system will see the placing of a microchip – which is about the size of a grain of rice – under the animal’s skin that includes a unique code which links to the details of the owner. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The information can be read with the use of a special scanner – dog wardens, vets, kennels and others have these scanners so a dog which has been lost and found can be quickly identified and returned to home to the owner quickly.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Once a dog has been chipped by professional person who has been trained to do so, it’s vital that the information on the database is kept up to date, for example if the dog owner moves house. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To get a dog chipped, either: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• go to your vet – the procedure usually costs between £15 and £25
• keep an eye out for special offers by groups such as the Dogs Trust (www.dogstrust.org.uk)