Whether you have purchased a new dog or you are moving house with your precious pooch in tow, it may take your pet a while to become familiar with its new surroundings. With this in mind, it’s important to have all the necessary precautions in place should your dog go missing.
Microchipping
A microchip is a tiny electronic chip which features a unique reference number that can be identified by a scanner in case your dog gets lost or goes missing. As the owner, your contact details will be stored under this number which can be accessed via a secure database, should your missing dog be found.
If your lost dog is found with a microchip, the national 24-hour database will be contacted to find your details. You will then be contacted immediately so you can be reunited with your beloved pet as quickly as possible.
Procedure
Dogs of any breed or size can be microchipped; the only requirement is that they must be at least eight weeks old. For the procedure itself, a microchip is injected through a sterile needle under the dog’s skin between its shoulder blades. This will cause no more irritation than a standard vaccination for your precious pooch, meaning no anesthetic is required.
Free procedure from Dogs Trust
While it’s already compulsory in Northern Ireland, from April 2016 the law will be changing so all dogs in England, Wales and Scotland must be microchipped. This process normally costs £15-20 at a local vets, however to help as many dog owners as possible comply with these new laws, Dogs Trust are offering the procedure free of charge.
If you don’t have a Dogs Trust centre near you, or you have been unable to organise an appointment, take a look on Chip My Dog to see when there is a free microchipping event near you.
Changing your contact details
If your contact details change, you can easily update your personal information on the microchip by visiting Pet Address and entering your pets microchip number. This website will then take you to the correct database which lists your pet’s microchip number, so you can contact them directly to change your details.
If you are unable to find your pet’s registry via this search, you will need to contact the person who implanted the microchip to find out which database your pet is listed in.
As the dog’s owner, the responsibility for updating the contact details lies with you, so it’s crucial to remember to amend the database should your circumstances change.
With over 50 years’ experience in the industry, here at Green Lane Farm the safety of your pet is of paramount importance. This is why we offer clean, secure boarding kennels and cattery facilities for those throughout Chessington, Kingston and the wider Surrey areas, providing attentive and trustworthy animal care to each and every one of our visitors. Simply contact our expert team today for further information.
