From April 6th 2016, it became a legal requirement to microchip all dogs in England, Scotland and Wales. Microchipping cats is highly recommended especially if they like to roam. In general, if your pet is big enough to have a microchip the size of a grain of rice implanted under it’s skin, they should be microchipped.

Microchipping is a quick and safe procedure that could make all the difference in reuniting you with your pet should they go missing. The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and the procedure, which involves implanting the tiny microchip under your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades is carried out by a vet or nurse.

Once your pet is microchipped, you and your pet’s details are stored in a microchip database along with the microchip’s unique 15 digit code.

Microchipping is permanent, meaning the microchip itself will last a lifetime and cannot be removed, making it extremely secure. If a pet is passed on to a new owner, the original owner can update the registered owner information in the microchip database.

When a missing pet is found, an animal professional, such as a vet or dog warden, will scan the pet to reveal the microchip’s unique code, and contact the microchip database the pet is registered with. Security checks will be performed before releasing your contact details to the animal professional, so that your pet can be reunited with you.

The unique microchip code matched with the information in the microchip database will identify that you are the pet owner, so you must keep your contact details up to date at all times. If your missing pet is found, their microchip is scanned and your old contact information is stored, how would the animal professional get in touch with you?

Put simply for dogs, microchipping is now the law. If your dog isn’t microchipped already, you must act immediately. Any animal can go missing, cats especially. Microchipping gives you a much greater chance of being reunited with your pet.

Although there is no legal obligation to microchip rabbits or guinea pigs, any animal that is large enough to have the microchip implanted should be microchipped in case they go missing or get stolen.

The UK Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the owner’s name and address, with postcode, engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag. Your telephone number is optional but is recommended. We believe this should be compulsory for cats too so that they can quickly be reunited with their owner if they go missing.