Birmingham & District Dobermann Club

Compulsory Microchipping...
It's the law from 6th April 2016

 

Amendments to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 will become UK law from 6th April 2016. Following a successful campaign, and no doubt much lobbying  by both the Kennel Cub and Petlog, new regulations have been passed through Parliament which address the urgent need to improve responsible dog ownership.  Within the secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, from 6th April 2016, microchipping will be mandatory for all dogs in England:
 

• Every keeper of a dog which is older than 8 weeks must ensure that the dog is microchipped and registered with an approved microchipping database.

• Any changes to a keeper’s details must be updated on an approved microchip database.

• Where a dog is transferred to a new keeper – the new keeper must, unless the previous keeper had already done so, record their contact details on an approved microchip database.

• No keeper may transfer a dog to a new keeper, (this includes breeders), until it has been microchipped, unless a certificate from a veterinary surgeon has been issued regarding the dog’s health.
   

Anyone who does not have their dog microchipped after 6th April 2016 will have 21 days to have the dog microchipped and failure to do so may result in a fine of up to £500. Under the new regulations it is also a requirement that the records must be kept up to date and failure to do so could lead to enforcement action resulting in a fine for non-compliance.
 

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: “The Kennel Club has always been dedicated to reuniting dogs with their owners through Petlog and through our campaign as part of the Microchipping Alliance to make permanent identification compulsory.”
 

Free microchipping is available throughout the year at all Dogs Trust rehoming centres, (by appointment), as well as their free chipping roadshows and over 1,500 veterinary practices across the country. To find a participating vet, rehoming centre or event near you, visit: -

http://www.chipmydog.org.uk/have-your-dog-chipped-for-free/
 

It is also not commonly known that:

The Control of Dogs Order 1992 mandates that any dog in a public place must wear a collar and tag with the name and address of the owner engraved on it. Your postcode and a phone number are optional (but advisable).You can be fined up to £5,000 if your dog does not wear a suitable identification tag.