Dog Owners In Newport Urged To Get Pets Microchipped Now

Dog owners in Newport are being urged to get their pets microchipped ahead of new legislation being introduced in Wales next month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Microchipping of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2015 come into force on April 6 and follows a consultation by the Welsh Government which took place in April 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Micro-chipping is an easy and painless process in which a small chip is inserted into a dog. The chip contains details of the pet, such as its name, breed and age, as well as contact details for the owners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

When a dog is found, it can be scanned by a warden, vet or rescue organisation that has a scanner and easily reunited with its owner – as long as it is chipped and the contact details are kept up to date. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Micro-chipping is an essential part of responsible dog ownership and it is hoped the new legislation will encourage increased responsibility, alongside the Council’s continued work to combat dog fouling, noise nuisance and public health issues from irresponsible dog ownership and dealing with illegal dog breeders. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It means that stray dogs which are picked up are more likely to be reunited with their owners quickly. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The regulations also prevent a dog from being transferred to a new keeper until it has been microchipped and any new owner of a dog is required to update the information on the database on the transfer of keeper/ownership. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Once the regulations are in place, council animal welfare officers will have the powers to issue legal notices to pet owners whose dog is not microchipped. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Bob Poole, Newport City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services said: “Overall, this legislation should lead to an improvement in animal welfare because it places more emphasis on dog owners to take more responsibility for their pets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Dog owners can contact their local vet about microchipping.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

UK dog charity – Dogs Trust UK, provides advice to dog owners via their website about microchipping and is holding a series of events across the country in the run up to the introduction of the legislation where they are holding free microchipping sessions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Visit www.chipmydog.org.uk to find out about an event in the region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Draft Regulations can be found by visiting the following web page: http://gov.wales/docs/drah/publications/151127microchippingregsen.pdf ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wales. The regulation also includes the ban of electric shocking collars that some owners used for obedience. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​