It revealed that over 9000 unhomed dogs had been destroyed' and ‘of those stray and abandoned dogs found, less than 50% were able to be returned to their owners. However, one-third of these were reunited with their owners thanks to their microchip’.
Millions of pets are microchipped in the UK, which is an encouraging start as recent surveys have shown that microchips have a huge impact on successful reunification. However, many lost pets are still not reunited with their owners, with the Dogs Trust annual Stray Dog Survey showing that as many as 49% of dogs were not reunited with owners in 2009. This is, however, a big improvement on 2008 when 58% of stray dogs were not reunited with their owners.
A microchipped pet community will not only help lost animals find their way home quickly, reducing stress for them and their owners, but it will also help to ease the burden on practices, local authorities and welfare organizations around the country which are inundated with stray animals. Around 250 000 dogs alone go missing each year and veterinary nurses will know all too well the time a lost pet can take up. A greater number of microchipped pets would lead to more quick and easy reunifications and ultimately help to reduce the number of animals in rescue homes.
Currently microchipping is optional, and as such is simply a method of permanent identification. If it was to be made compulsory the function of the microchip would change. The report Compulsory Microchipping in the UK cites compulsory microchipping as a possible solution to a number of dog-related problems. It is suggested that compulsory microchipping of dogs will provide a deterrent against dog theft and help tackle puppy farming and animal cruelty.
The Kennel Club is in favour of making microchipping compulsory for dogs, and all dogs presented under the British Veterinary Association/Kennel Club Canine Health Schemes must already be permanently identified by microchip or tattoo.
Most animal welfare and veterinary organizations support the principle of compulsory microchipping, and the Dogs Trust, RSPCA, Blue Cross and Vets Get Scanning have all called for changes in legislation. Sir Patrick Bateson (emeritus professor of ethology at Cambridge University and president of the Zoological Society of London since 2004) also recommended the compulsory microchipping of puppies prior to sale in his 2010 Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding.
However, it is not just having a microchip that is important for a pet. Owners also need to be made aware that once the chip has been implanted it is then their responsibility to keep their contact details up to date.
According to Fidler & Pepper Solicitors, last year 850 000 people moved home. Though still relatively low compared with pre-2007 figures, such huge numbers of people changing address every year mean that microchip databases are concerned that pet owners are neglecting to update their contact details associated with the microchip.
National Microchipping Month takes place in the UK every June and is used to communicate with the public the benefits of microchipping their pets and, this year, the importance of keeping contact details up to date. To gain national attention, National Microchipping Month is urging databases to offer their customers the opportunity to check and amend their details throughout June for free.
The success of National Microchipping Month is down to the support of practices around the UK opening their doors to new and old clients, offering discounts to microchip pets and communicating the benefits of microchipping.
When an industry pulls together and sends a strong and clear message to the public, it is hard to ignore. National Microchipping Month has been, and continues to be, an important tool to communicate with pet owners the benefits of microchipping.