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| Puppies in the UK must now be microchipped by 12 weeks of age |
This legislation was spearheaded by the Microchipping Alliance, which includes the BVA (British Veterinary Association), The Kennel Club (of UK), the Dogs Trust, and the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).
All puppies in the UK must now be microchipped and registered with an authorized microchip database by the time they are 8 weeks old, 12 weeks for certain working dogs. Dog owners will be fined 500£, about $700 US, for non compliance if they fail to microchip their dogs!
Dog owners are required to keep their dog's microchip information updated. If someone sells or transfers ownership of their dog to someone else, they are responsible for making the updates on the transfer of their dog's ownership on the microchip database.
All puppies in the UK must now be microchipped and registered with an authorized microchip database by the time they are 8 weeks old, 12 weeks for certain working dogs. Dog owners will be fined 500£, about $700 US, for non compliance if they fail to microchip their dogs!
Dog owners are required to keep their dog's microchip information updated. If someone sells or transfers ownership of their dog to someone else, they are responsible for making the updates on the transfer of their dog's ownership on the microchip database.
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| By making microchipping mandatory for all dogs in the UK, the hope is that fewer dogs will end up in shelters |
There are no standard exemptions for microchipping. If a dog needs to be exempted from getting chipped for health reasons, their Veterinarian must submit a Certificate of Exemption Form. The form must be submitted to DEFRA, the Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs.
KEY BENEFITS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, ANIMAL WELFARE, AND VETERINARY ORGANIZATIONS HOPE TO SEE BY MANDATORY MICROCHIPPING OF ALL DOGS ARE:
** Increase the odds of lost or stolen dogs being returned home.
** Reduce the number of dogs in animal shelters by aiding in the return of lost or stolen dogs.
** Reduce the burden & cost borne by animal control and animal sheltering entities.
** Hold puppy breeders accountable for the puppies they produce, addressing the issue of Puppy Farming (Puppy Mills), in the UK. Breeders must microchip puppies before transferring them to their first owner.
** Hold dog owners more accountable for the care they provide to their dogs.
** Help identify and trace animal cruelty offenders.
You may be wondering how the new microchip laws will be enforced and by whom? Police and other local authorities will have microchip readers on hand in order to enforce microchip laws. So if you're strolling around Trafalgar Square with your dog off leash, a police officer just might grab him and scan to ensure he's been chipped!
KEY BENEFITS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, ANIMAL WELFARE, AND VETERINARY ORGANIZATIONS HOPE TO SEE BY MANDATORY MICROCHIPPING OF ALL DOGS ARE:
** Increase the odds of lost or stolen dogs being returned home.
** Reduce the number of dogs in animal shelters by aiding in the return of lost or stolen dogs.
** Reduce the burden & cost borne by animal control and animal sheltering entities.
** Hold puppy breeders accountable for the puppies they produce, addressing the issue of Puppy Farming (Puppy Mills), in the UK. Breeders must microchip puppies before transferring them to their first owner.
** Hold dog owners more accountable for the care they provide to their dogs.
** Help identify and trace animal cruelty offenders.
You may be wondering how the new microchip laws will be enforced and by whom? Police and other local authorities will have microchip readers on hand in order to enforce microchip laws. So if you're strolling around Trafalgar Square with your dog off leash, a police officer just might grab him and scan to ensure he's been chipped!
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| Microchipping isn't required by law in the U.S. like it is in the UK, but I'm microchipped |
Some people worry about potential health issues due to microchipping. Specifically, cancers developing at the site of chip injection. We don't have mandatory reporting on microchipping incidents in the U.S. There also don't seem to be valid medical or scientific studies, at least not that I could find, that either link microchips to cancer or dispel the notion that they can contribute to cancer or other serious conditions.
There does seem to be agreement among several medical professionals on one case I read about, a French Bulldog named Leon. It is believed Leon developed cancer at the site of his microchip installation. When the tumor was removed, the chip was found embedded into it.
I recently read on PETMD, by Dr. Patty Khuly: "...with every medical implant, there's always a risk. And the risk-benefit ratio must be weighed accordingly, with all the information at our disposal". I think that makes sense, do you agree?
Veterinarians in the UK are required to report adverse reactions of microchips. They must submit a Microchip Adverse Event Reporting Form to the VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate), a division of DEFRA.
However, there doesn't seem to be any penalty to Veterinarians for not reporting on microchip failures, unless there are found to be repeated failures that go unreported by that Veterinarian. The form lists microchip "Adverse Reaction" choices as; Reaction, Migration, or Failure.
Note: English, Scottish, and Welsh microchip legislation and processes have a couple of minor differences. I've also learned that Ireland has enacted mandatory microchip law as well.
I'd love to hear from some of our British friends in the Comments. How do you feel about this new law, are you happy about it or do you resent having a microchipping law imposed on you? What do your friends and family with dogs think about it? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts!
I'd like to hear from our American friends in the Comments as well. Would you like to see dog microchipping become mandatory in the U.S.? Or would you oppose the microchipping of all dogs made mandatory? How does your Veterinarian feel about microchipping?
Please leave a comment with your thoughts. We always love hearing from you!
If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy reading about how to Protect Your Dog Against HEARTWORM DISEASE OR How PROBIOTICS can help your dog's upset stomach.
Information SOURCES for this blog post:
Microchipping Fact Sheet from the Kennel Club (UK) provides a good overview of the new requirements.
You can read the detail of the UK's Microchipping Legislation here.
There does seem to be agreement among several medical professionals on one case I read about, a French Bulldog named Leon. It is believed Leon developed cancer at the site of his microchip installation. When the tumor was removed, the chip was found embedded into it.
I recently read on PETMD, by Dr. Patty Khuly: "...with every medical implant, there's always a risk. And the risk-benefit ratio must be weighed accordingly, with all the information at our disposal". I think that makes sense, do you agree?
Veterinarians in the UK are required to report adverse reactions of microchips. They must submit a Microchip Adverse Event Reporting Form to the VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate), a division of DEFRA.
However, there doesn't seem to be any penalty to Veterinarians for not reporting on microchip failures, unless there are found to be repeated failures that go unreported by that Veterinarian. The form lists microchip "Adverse Reaction" choices as; Reaction, Migration, or Failure.
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| Huskies are hard wired to RUN! Icy is microchipped just in case the unthinkable should happen. It can help her get back home to us. |
I'd love to hear from some of our British friends in the Comments. How do you feel about this new law, are you happy about it or do you resent having a microchipping law imposed on you? What do your friends and family with dogs think about it? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts!
I'd like to hear from our American friends in the Comments as well. Would you like to see dog microchipping become mandatory in the U.S.? Or would you oppose the microchipping of all dogs made mandatory? How does your Veterinarian feel about microchipping?
Please leave a comment with your thoughts. We always love hearing from you!
If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy reading about how to Protect Your Dog Against HEARTWORM DISEASE OR How PROBIOTICS can help your dog's upset stomach.
Information SOURCES for this blog post:
Microchipping Fact Sheet from the Kennel Club (UK) provides a good overview of the new requirements.
You can read the detail of the UK's Microchipping Legislation here.
