Owners Urged To Get Dogs Microchipped As New National Regulations Come In To Place.

All dog owners are reminded of the new legislation which will make it compulsory for them to have their pets chipped. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As of April 6, the Microchipping of Dogs (Wales) Regulation 2015 will come into force. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new regulations will require owners or keepers to have their dogs chipped, and the chips will link to a database providing such details as the name of the dog and its owner, along with their home address and telephone number. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Those who do not have their dogs chipped could have notices served on them by the Council’s Dog Warden service, giving them 21 days in which to have their animal chipped. Failure to do so could result in prosecution and a fine of up to £500. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A number of organisations and bodies offer microchipping services for free. Local veterinary practices and the nationwide charity The Dogs Trust provide microchipping for free. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For contact details of the veterinary practices that provide free microchipping, visit www.chipmydog.org.uk, and for information on Dogs Trust, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham County Borough Council’s Dog Warden service also offers free microchipping, but there is currently a three-week waiting list. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To contact the Dog Warden service, telephone Contact Wrexham on 01978 29 89 89. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Some dogs – including puppies under eight weeks of age and certified working dogs – are exempt from being chipped. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dog owners should also ensure their dog wears a collar and identification tag (bearing the name, address and telephone number) as this is an existing legal requirement which could result in a fine, if prosecuted, up to £5,000. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham County Borough Council, said: “The Council fully supports microchipping of dogs and visible identification by collar and tag, as this will help re-unite lost or straying dogs with their owners much quicker. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We encourage all owners to be aware of the new regulations, and ensure they have their dogs microchipped, and wear an identification collar and tag, before April 6.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​