Around 250,000 pets go lacking yearly within the UK. Microchipping makes it simpler to reunite these lacking pets with their homeowners.
It’s been a authorized requirement to microchip all dogs in England and Wales since April 2016, and it will quickly be the legislation for cats. You can microchip animals equivalent to rabbits, ferrets and parrots too.
We’ve put collectively this complete information that will help you become familiar with microchips.
What is microchipping?
A microchip is a scannable, small gadget roughly the dimensions of a grain of rice. It shops data like your identify and deal with on a database so the police or native authority can contact you in case your pet is misplaced.
Microchipping is a secure, easy process for animals. Your vet, or a educated skilled, will implant a small digital gadget underneath your pet’s pores and skin, normally the place the pores and skin is unfastened between the shoulder blades.
It’s a fast process that does not trigger your pet ache or discomfort as soon as it is in place. A microchip lasts a lifetime, however it’s essential to update the data if you happen to change deal with or the animal will get a brand new proprietor.
Microchipping goals to deal with the excessive numbers of stray, deserted and injured pets. Along with reuniting households with their pets, it is thought that microchipping dogs may also assist forestall unlawful breeding and puppy farms, because the chip is linked to the breeder.
What’s the legislation round microchipping my cat or canine?
Since April 2016, it’s been obligatory to microchip dogs in England, Scotland and Wales except a vet certifies they’re exempt for well being causes.
Since 2016, Cats Protection (the UK’s main cat charity) and different animal welfare organisations have efficiently campaigned for obligatory microchipping laws for cats. This legislation will lengthen to cats in late 2022.
When do I have to microchip my cat or canine?
Puppies have to be microchipped as soon as they flip eight weeks old. Cats have to be microchipped by the point they’re 20 weeks old.
You additionally should hold the contact particulars saved on the microchip database up to date.
If you don’t microchip your pet, police or native authorities provides you with 21 days to take action, or you can face a £500 tremendous.
Where can I get my pet microchipped, and the way a lot does it cost?
Veterinary surgical procedures, pet retailers and pet rescue and welfare centres can all match microchips. Wherever you resolve to take your pet, just remember to use a completely certified skilled – it’ll assist defend your insurance coverage declare if one thing goes flawed.
It is not costly to microchip your pet, however prices differ relying on the place you may have the process. Some charities, equivalent to Dogs Trust or different animal welfare centres, might microchip your pet free of charge or ask for a small donation.
How do I discover out if my adopted pet is already microchipped?
If you’re undecided, you may get your pet scanned at an animal shelter, vet or perhaps a police station. You gained’t want an appointment, they usually shouldn’t cost you.
If you’ve rehomed your pet from a shelter, it’s seemingly that the rescue organisation can have microchipped the animal. If that is the case, it’s essential to add your particulars to the microchipping database.
How do I update my pet’s microchip?
Updating your pet’s microchip will cost you round £10, and the method relies on which database your chip producer is registered with.
If you bought an update kind while you first microchipped your pet, you’ll be able to fill it out and publish to the corporate. You could possibly update your particulars together with your database supplier on-line or over the cellphone.
If you are not sure which database you registered your particulars with, contact your vet or take your pet right into a veterinary clinic or pet store to be scanned. You may also use check-a-chip.co.uk to search out out.
What ought to I do if my pet goes lacking?
Microchips can solely reveal data from a database as soon as scanned. It doesn’t use GPS know-how, so you’ll be able to’t find your lacking pet.
If your pet would not come home, hopefully somebody has taken them to an animal rescue centre or an animal warden. They’ll scan the microchip and make contact with you, which is why conserving the contact particulars on the microchip updated is crucial.
If your pet is lacking for some time, ask your native centres to maintain their eyes peeled on your pet.
How does microchipping have an effect on my pet insurance coverage?
Most insurers will ask you whether or not your pet is microchipped to find out your premium.
If you personal a canine, you’ll be able to’t get canine insurance coverage till you have had it microchipped. If you personal a distinct animal, insurers might supply a reduction for getting it microchipped.
Karen Cornish
Pet journalist
I’ve spent 20 years writing about pets and exploring the fantastic relationships they’ve with their homeowners. I began as a employees author on Dogs Today journal, working my means as much as turn into deputy editor in 2008. In 2010, I left the workplace to pursue a contract profession, relocated to north Norfolk and began a household.
Over the years I’ve contributed considerate human-interest options, superstar interviews and investigative information tales to publications together with The Sunday Times, Dogs Today, Dogs Monthly and Your Cat. I’ve additionally ghost-written veterinary books and press releases for the pet trade.
When I’m not writing, I take pleasure in lengthy walks within the Norfolk countryside with my rescue lurcher Popsie. These are all the time adopted by tea and cake.
