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Microchipping

Microchip your pet with Clent Hills Vets

Over 250,000 pets go missing every year. Unclaimed pets can remain in shelters for some time and may even be rehomed or put to sleep. Don’t risk it, get your pet microchipped immediately.

Dog microchipping has been a legal requirement in the UK since April 2016. Cat microchipping is due to become a legal requirement too, in 2021.

Many owners don’t put a collar and tag on their cat; some say it’s because their cat “doesn’t like it”, or because the cat will just remove it. Whatever the reason, without any form of identification, it can be almost impossible for veterinary practices and animal rescue centres to reunite cats with their owners after they've gone missing, or following a road traffic accident.

Read more about Compulsary Cat Microchipping in 2021

Stay connected to your cat (or other pet) with a microchip – a tiny, permanent identification tag that your cat cannot remove – and make sure you can be reunited with them quickly if the worst should happen.

Everything you need to know about microchipping

  • Does my pet need a microchip?
  • What is Microchipping?
  • How does a microchip connect me to my pet?
  • How long does a microchip last?
  • How will a microchip help me find my missing pet?
  • Always keep your details up to date
  • Why should my pet be microchipped?
  • Rabbits and small furries
  • Does my pet need to wear a pet ID tag?

Does my pet need a microchip?

From April 6th 2016, it became a legal requirement to microchip all dogs in England, Scotland and Wales. Microchipping cats is due to become a legal requirement in 2021. 

Read more about Compulsary Cat Microchipping in 2021

In general, if your pet is big enough to have a microchip the size of a grain of rice implanted under its skin, they should be microchipped.

What is Microchipping?

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.

Kittens and puppies are normally microchipped at their first vaccination, but pets can be microchipped at any time.

How does a microchip connect me to my pet?

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.

How long does a microchip last?

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.

How will a microchip help me find my missing pet?

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.

Always keep your details up to date

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?

Why should my pet be microchipped?

Put simply for dogs, microchipping is a legal requirement, and will be for cats soon too. If your pet isn’t microchipped already, you should act now. Any animal can go missing, cats especially. The number of pets being stolen has increased dramatically since the first COVID-19 lockdown. Microchipping gives you a much greater chance of being reunited with your pet.

Read more about Compulsary Cat Microchipping in 2021

Rabbits and small furries

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.

Does my pet need to wear a pet ID tag?

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.

Microchipping costs just £28.50

For just £28.50 our trained team can microchip your pet in minutes and advise you on how to add your details to one of the UK microchip databases. Make sure you and your pet can be reunited as quickly as possible should they go missing.

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