Microchipping – To chip or not to chip?

At Tagiffany we strive to assist thousands of pet owners each year to successfully reunite them with their treasured missing pets.

Placing identification on our pets is a simple and easy task, yet so many of our special companions become lost without a collar and identification tag to ensure they are returned home safely. This technique is the simplest and most cost-effective method to reunite you with your pet.

Globally the third week in April is celebrated as National Pet ID Awareness Week, a question we are asked frequently at Tagiffany is whether identification tags are required by law and what information needs to be engraved onto the tag. In the UK, the Control of Dogs Order 1992 states, that every dog should wear a collar with the name and address of the owner inscribed or on a plate or badge attached to it. Your telephone number is optional, but highly recommended. Without this, owners can be fined up to £5,000, a sizable amount which can be avoided with a purchase of an identification tag.

Not only is National Pet ID Awareness Week held in April, but April signifies great changes for the pet industry, with the introduction of compulsory microchipping of dogs across the UK. By Spring 2016 all dogs in England, Scotland and Wales will have to be microchipped and registered on a database by the age of 8 weeks and before transfer to a new keeper.

It is hoped that with the introduction of this new law owners of lost or stolen pets will be aided in the process of reuniting them with their pets, relieving some of the pressure faced daily by animal charities and local authorities.

A microchip is a fantastic way to identify a pet and lasts a lifetime. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is injected beneath the surface of the pet’s skin between the shoulder blades. Microchips are read by passing a microchip scanner over the pet’s shoulder blades and body. Unlike a collar and identification tag, however the length of time your pet has been missing, they can still be traced back to their registered owner.

Campaigning for this legislation to come into force has been the Microchipping Alliance, a group formed of over 15 organisations including leading animal welfare organisations, charities and veterinary bodies. The Kennel Club forms part of the Alliance and believes this long-awaited legislation will benefit animal welfare and responsible dog ownership. Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, commented: “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.

“We welcome the new microchipping regulations in England, Wales and Scotland. The regulations highlight the importance of dog owners ensuring that they register their pet’s details to an approved database – not only because this is now a legal requirement but also because it is in the interest of the welfare of their dogs to do so.

“The microchipping regulations will go a long way towards improving dog welfare by ensuring that dog owners are more aware of their responsibilities, and that microchipping as well as keeping contact details up to date ensures speedy reunifi cation of a missing dog with its owner. In addition, it will add traceability of where each dog has come from, and in turn should assist with improving health and welfare issues such as puppy farming.”

In order to raise awareness, the Kennel Club has launched www.chipitcheckit.co.uk a new website to help make the new law regarding the compulsory microchipping of dogs as straightforward as possible for dog owners, vets, breeders and local authorities. The website is a one-stop shop for everything people need to know about compulsory microchipping, from checking a microchip to advice, tips and downloads for breeders, vets, dog owners and more, to ensure all dog owners and breeders are complying with the law.

In June 2015, figures from the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) Spring 2015 Voice of the Veterinary Profession Survey indicated there is still much work to be done in making owners aware of the new legislation, with the majority of vets across the UK estimating that a quarter of dogs remain unchipped. Kirsty Baird – BVMS. MRCVS, Clinical Director, Hird and Partners LLP explains, “We strongly advise clients to have their pets microchipped and to wear visible ID, such as Tagiffany tags. This not only helps pet owners comply with new legislation but also really does give their pet the best possible chance of being re-united with them in the event of separation. As vets we see the happy stories where pets are successfully reunited with their owners but we also witness the sad and heart breaking situations where a lack of microchip or visible ID means that the story does not always have a happy ending.”

There is still time to microchip your pets in time for the implementation of this new legislation, your local vets practice can advise on the microchipping process and next steps.

Just because it is the law for your pet to wear an identification tag, doesn’t mean your pet can’t have a fashionable stylish identification tag.

Tagiffany are the leading online retailer and vet suppliers for prestige designer dog and cat products. With several beautifully unique collections, Tagiffany are the market leaders in developing pioneering products for pet owners.

We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service, going above and beyond to ensure your experience with Tagiffany is memorable. Our selection of quality, never seen before collections have evolved over the years to provide owners with the guarantee that Tagiffany products will last the test of time.

Our elegant collections are suited to every taste, whether you are looking for something sparkly or minimalist, Tagiffany have what you’re looking for.