From April 2016, all dogs in England will have to be microchipped and from May 2015 it will become compulsory in Wales. So, what will the new law mean for veterinary practices? This article provides an update on everything you need to know about the upcoming laws and how they will affect you.
The problem
Over 100 000 dogs are stray, lost or stolen each year and local authorities and welfare charities spend approximately £57 million a year in kennelling costs. Over half (52%) of strays cannot be returned because their owners cannot be identified and some 6000 dogs have to be put down each year, because their owner cannot be found.
The solution
Since 2009 the Microchipping Alliance, including The Kennel Club, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and the British Veterinary Nursing Association, have worked together to make permanent identification for all dogs.
Both the Welsh and Westminster Governments have committed to introducing the compulsory microchipping of dogs in the next few years. Included in the measures is the requirement for all dogs to be microchipped in order to create a clear link between a dog and its owner.
The Westminster Government has committed to introducing regulations to require the microchipping of all dogs in England from 6th April 2016, with Wales implementing their regulations from 1st March 2015. Both will be as secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
From this date owners will need to:
- Have their dog microchipped and registered on an authorised microchip database
- Register the details of any new owner before they sell or give the dog away
- Keep their contact details up to date on the microchip databases
What next?
From 1st March 2015 in Wales and 6 April 2016 in England, all dogs will be required to have a microchip with their details recorded on an authorised microchip database. Veterinary practices, local authorities, the police and dog wardens will all have scanners and be encouraged to scan routinely. After the enactment date owners of dogs in England and Wales that come to the attention of the police or local authorities will be scanned. Those owners whose dogs are found without a microchip will have the benefits explained to them and be given a short period to comply. If they fail to microchip their dog, owners could face a fine of up to £500. The government will require all puppies to be microchipped before sale/gifting (generally between 6–8 weeks in most cases depending on the size of the dog). Anyone who sells or gifts a dog to another person/organisation will need to ensure the details for the microchip are changed to reflect those of the new owner before sale/gifting, in the same way in which a car is transferred. If they do not ensure this, they could be liable for the dog's actions, such as a dog being out of control in a public place.
What does this mean for veterinary practices?
Veterinary practices are often the main point of contact for pet owners with concerns and owners will be looking for advice about microchipping and how the new law will impact them. Two major concerns are the importance of ISO identified microchips which detail their expiry date and with sterilisation indicator and a robust lost and found microchip database.
Almost 60% of dogs are already microchipped but it may be that a lot of dog owners who have not had their dogs microchipped currently may wait until nearer to the time to arrange to have their dogs microchipped, causing an influx in dogs needing to be microchipped in 2016.
Starting discussions from now on and answering any questions or concerns dog owners have will combat any problems in the future and reminding clients to keep their contact details up to date will ensure they are prepared and ready for the new law.