As an Australian veterinarian, I have read with interest the article in this edition regarding the impending introduction of compulsory microchipping of dogs in the United Kingdom. Legislation providing for compulsory microchipping of dogs and cats was first introduced in Australia in 1998. In my home state of Queensland, compulsory microchipping was legislated in 2008 aiming to permanently identify dogs and cats, effectively manage regulated or dangerous dogs and to foster responsible pet ownership. Veterinarians and veterinary nurses would be the largest group of microchip implanters authorised under Australian legislation. Accompanying this responsibility, veterinary nurses are placed in an ideal position to be advocates for responsible pet ownership educating clients about the value of making a lifelong commitment to maintaining their pet's microchip status and emphasising the importance of microchips in reuniting a lost pet with its owner.
This commitment to ensuring the effectiveness of microchipping is in accordance with the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses, which espouses that nurses must safeguard the health and welfare of animals in their care. Veterinary nurses today can achieve this in a number of ways through their expanding role as key members of the veterinary healthcare team, working either ‘behind the scenes’ in the veterinary practice, or at the ‘coalface’ interacting with clients in the veterinary practice or out in the community. In Australia, veterinary nurses are actively engaged in community education advocating responsible pet ownership through programs such as the Australian Veterinary Association's Pets and People Education Program (PetPEP). With PetPEP, nurses work collaboratively with veterinarians, animal welfare agencies, government agencies, and community and wildlife organisations to deliver the message of responsible pet ownership to primary schoolchildren, the pet owners of the future. As an emerging profession, this educational role is very important for veterinary nursing in raising its public profile and defining the unique contribution that veterinary nurses can make to society.
However, as well as raising its public profile, veterinary nursing needs to advance its professionalisation by promoting evidence-based practice in all facets of the nursing role. Opportunities for research must abound for veterinary nurses with an interest in client and community education, particularly in the area of responsible pet ownership. The limited amount of research and publications by veterinary nurses in this field, beckons those who have a passion for making a difference and providing evidence for veterinary nursing practice! Finding out how nurses can get the microchip message across more effectively to clients, how to make reunification systems work more effectively and to monitor client compliance rates are all important and exciting questions about which to seek the truth!
On the eve of the introduction of compulsory microchipping of dogs in the United Kingdom, it is only fitting that microchipping is a topic for discussion in this journal. Veterinary nurses do have a pivotal role to play in educating clients about the benefits of microchipping their pets and keeping their contact details up to date. However, educating clients about microchips is not a ‘one-off’ activity when the new puppy comes in for its first visit to the veterinary practice. Nurses need to be proactive in monitoring the microchip status of pets at each of their visits to the veterinary practice and in being leaders in the community; spreading the word about responsible pet ownership as well as seeking the truth through research!