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Posted: Sun eleventh Feb 2024
A North Wales politician has backed calls to introduce obligatory microchipping for cats in Wales.
Welsh Conservative MS Mark Isherwood not too long ago joined fellow politicians at a Senedd reception to debate how obligatory microchipping of pet cats would considerably enhance feline welfare.
Cats Protection hosted the occasion as a part of its marketing campaign for the Welsh Government to introduce the measure, which is because of grow to be legislation in England later this yr.
The reception on 6 February was an opportunity for politicians to search out out extra about obligatory microchipping and lend their help to the marketing campaign.
Figures from Cats Protection’s Cats and Their Stats report 2023 reveals {that a} quarter of cats in Wales – round 180,000 – are at the moment not microchipped.
Cats Protection is the UK’s main cat welfare charity and has helped a mean of 157,000 cats and kittens a yr over the past 5 years by its nationwide community of 210 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres.
Daryl Gordon, Cats Protection’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Wales, stated it was essential that Wales doesn’t “lag behind in this important feline welfare issue.”
Daryl Gordon stated: “It has been a authorized requirement for dogs to be microchipped within the UK since 2016 and from June this yr, it should apply to cats too, however solely in England.
“We don’t need to see Wales lag behind on this essential feline welfare challenge, so we’re urging the Welsh Government to behave now to introduce the measure.
“Microchipping is an important a part of accountable cat possession, guaranteeing cats can shortly be returned home in the event that they’re misplaced and making it simpler for rescue charities to assist stray cats.
“We had been thrilled to welcome so many MSs to our occasion, and it’s nice to see politicians taking an curiosity in feline welfare.
“We’ll continue to work with politicians to push this measure forward.”
Mr Isherwood agreed that microchipping is the “most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets.”
He added: “It was good to attend the Cats Protection microchipping drop-in occasion to search out out extra about Cats Protection’s marketing campaign to make microchipping of owned cats obligatory in Wales.
“Microchipping would make it simpler for misplaced or stray pet cats to be reunited with their homeowners and returned home safely.
“It is the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets.”
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