Cornwall Council is urging pet owners to give their bestest boys and girls the “pawfect” gift for National Dog Day (August 26).
Show your four-legged friend some love by giving them some personalised bling (an ID tag), and check their microchip details are up to date.
As well as being a legal requirement, dogs that are microchipped and have an ID tag are much more likely to be reunited with their owners quickly should they venture off on their own - making for a “furry-tail” ending.
Most dogs collected by Cornwall Council’s stray dog service do not have tags, with microchip details often out of date. Dogs with ID tags are nearly always reunited with their owner immediately. However, for those that are taken into the Council's care, a release fee is necessary to cover costs.
It is a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped from eight weeks of age, and to have an identification tag on their collar. Following a recent change in the law, cats must also be microchipped from 20 weeks of age.
Councillor Martyn Alvey, the portfolio holder responsible for public protection and enforcement at Cornwall Council, said: “If you rehome, buy or rescue a dog it is a legal requirement to ensure that the dog is microchipped and the owner details are updated with the national database, and please remember to update your details if you move house or change phone number.
“When pets go missing it can be a really stressful time. Making sure their microchip details up to date and they have an ID tag with your contact details on could save you a lot of heartache, and money too.”
How do I update my dog's microchip details?
It is important to remember to keep your dog’s microchip details. If you move to a new house or change your phone number, you must contact your microchip database provider to let them know.
It’s simple to update the details for your dog’s microchip; you can do it online, by telephone or by post – depending on which database your chip is registered to. Charges for updating your contact details will vary across microchip database providers.
If you are unsure of who your microchip provider is, contact one of the below databases who will be able to tell you who you are registered with or try check-a-chip.co.uk. If you do not know your dog’s microchip number, you will need to have your dog scanned at a vet clinic.
UK Microchip Databases
- Animal Microchips
- Animal Tracker
- Chipworks
- Identibase
- MicroChip Central
- MicroDogID
- National Veterinary Data Service
- Pet Identity UK
- Petlog
- PetScanner
- ProtectedPet
- SmartTrace
- UK PETtrac
Press release issued on August 23, 2024