Countdown to compulsory dog microchipping

Deputy Minister for Farming and Food, Rebecca Evans has reminded owners there are just 50 days until it will be compulsory for dogs in Wales to be microchipped. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By 6 April, all dogs over eight weeks old will need to be microchipped, with their owners’ details registered on an approved database. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Deputy Minister for Farming and Food, Rebecca Evans said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There are just 50 days to go until it will be a legal requirement for dogs in Wales to be microchipped. If there are any owners left who have not already had their dogs microchipped, they must do so by 6 April. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The ability to trace all dogs back to their owners should encourage more responsible ownership and breeding, and help in the control of dangerous and nuisance dogs by creating a link between a dog and its owner. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Lost, stolen and injured dogs are much more likely to be reunited with their owners if they have been microchipped and registered on one of the authorised databases.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Professor Christianne Glossop, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Microchipping is a simple procedure involving the implantation of a small microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) under the skin of an animal via a needle. The process is quick and very well tolerated by dogs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Most dogs in Wales have already been microchipped but owners also need to ensure the corresponding database has their up to date contact details to give them the best chance of being reunited if they are lost or stolen.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Non-working dogs will still be 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 after the law comes into force. For more information about microchipping, please contact your vet or a suitably trained pet care specialist. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ends ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Notes ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• All keepers, including breeders, must keep the details on the database up to date.
• Local Authorities will be able to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to dog owners who have not had their dog microchipped unless they have been certified as unfit by a vet.
• “Charities such as the Dogs Trust and RSPCA are offering free or discounted microchipping in the run-up to 6 April. Please see the following websites for information:

www.chipmydog.org.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

www.rspca.org.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​