A YEAR after compulsory micro-chipping was introduced into the UK, shocking statistics show thousands of dog owners in the West Midlands still have not had their dogs chipped and are breaking the law.
The figures from the Dogs’ Trust estimate 89 per cent of dogs in the region do have microchips but there are still 11,000 owners who have not had their pets chipped.
Microchips enable pooches to be reunited with their owners if they become lost or stolen.
On the plus side, 1,693 stray dogs were reunited with their owners in the 2015 to 2016 period but ten per cent of the 6,667 stray and abandoned dogs still remained unclaimed because they were either not chipped or the information on the system was not up-to-date.
The legislation, introduced in April last year, means every dog over the age of eight weeks must be microchipped.
Also under the control of dogs order 1992, all dogs must wear a collar and identity tag in a public place, in which the tag must show the owner’s name and address.
Anyone who is breeding puppies for sale must know that they are required to be microchipped at eight weeks old with their details before the sale.
Anyone buying a puppy should be aware that the puppy should be microchipped and the microchip should be registered to the breeder. Once the dog finds its forever home, the new owner should update the details on the database.
The only dogs who do not need chips are those whose owners have a Defra exemption form.
Alex Jackson, head of campaigns at Dogs Trust, said the charity was working hard to ensure the remaining 11 per cent of dog owners in the West Midlands get their dogs chipped.
Visit www.petchipregistry-uk.info for more on the dog microchip campaign and to register pets and update information.
