Free Dog Micro-Chipping In Carmarthen

Carmarthenshire County Council’s dog warden will be on hand to help microchip dogs at Carmarthen’s Showground next week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Dogs Trust is hosting the event on Wednesday May 11 and Thursday May 12, from 10.30am to 2.30pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dog owners are being reminded that they are now breaking the law if they fail to have their dog microchipped following new legislation which came into force on April 6. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All dogs over eight weeks old must be microchipped, and the keepers’ details registered on an approved database. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dogs are still required by law to wear a collar and tag with the owner’s name and contact details on it when it is in a public place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthenshire County Council’s dog warden, part of the Environmental Health Team, deals with around 400 stray dogs every year and hopes that the new legislation will make it easier to reunite lost dogs with their owners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “We have always advocated micro-chipping as a safe and easy way to identify your dog should it go stray, but now that it is law we of course urge all owners to act quickly. We’re pleased to be attending the next Dogs Trust micro-chipping event in Carmarthen and hope to meet dogs of all shapes and sizes.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• All dogs must be 12 weeks or over and fully vaccinated.