Published: Friday 08th April 2016 | 2.33pm
Cannock Chase Council’s recent microchipping event in Rugeley was an overwhelming success.
The microchipping event, which took place at Victory Hall in Slitting Mill on Saturday 2nd April, provided residents in the District with the opportunity to have their dogs chipped for free.
Cannock Chase Council in conjunction with the Dogs Trust and Swan Pit Kennels microchipped 178 dogs on the day and scanned another 20 dogs, which were found to already have chips.
Mike Walker, Environmental Protection Manager said “We had a significant response to this event, far greater than anticipated. A lot of this was thanks to the interaction via social media.
The doors had to be closed earlier than anticipated due to demand and at times there was up to an hours wait for dog owners, so we thank everyone for their patience whilst they queued. We would also like to extend our thanks to the handful of volunteers who helped officers clear up the hall after the event.
We would encourage everyone in the District who didn’t manage to attend the event to get their dog microchipped at their local vets or pet stores if they haven’t already done so.”
This event was part of the Council’s ongoing initiative to promote responsible dog ownership and Council officers were on hand to give out information and offer advice to owners regarding dog fouling, keeping dogs on leads, noise nuisance and other aspects of dog control.
The dog owners whose dogs were scanned and found to already be microchipped were directed to the registration company to ensure they got their details updated.
The law came into place on 6th April and dog owners who have not had their pets microchipped could face a fine of up to £500.
A dog collar with the name and address/phone number of its owner is still a legal requirement for your dog. However, microchipping a dog is the most effective way of making sure that a lost or stolen dog is reunited with their rightful owner and helps reduce the number of stray dogs.
Microchipping is a quick, simple and painless procedure that can be done to any dog over the age of 12 weeks. A microchip, which is permanent is inserted under the skin on the back of the neck. Each microchip is coded with a unique number that is linked to a computer database containing the owner’s details. Once a dog is microchipped, they can be scanned to trace their owners if lost or stolen.