New dog microchipping law coming in April

Dog owners in Arun are being reminded that they have until 6 April this year to ensure that their dogs are microchipped in order to comply with new laws.

Aimed at cutting down a rise in strays, the Government legislation is intended to help reunite owners with lost or stolen pets and relieve some of the burden on animal
charities and local authorities.

If a dog owner fails to get their pet microchipped, they may be served with a notice by the Council requiring them to do so within 21 days. Failure to comply with the notice
may result in a £500 fine and/or the dog being seized and chipped and the costs passed on to the keeper.

The microchip has a unique identification number, which can be read when a scanner is passed over the chip enabling the dog’s keeper to be traced via national databases
which hold the owner’s details. The owner can then be contacted and reunited with their dog. Microchips, which are the size of a grain of rice, can be implanted by anyone trained by an approved trainer or vet. No anesthetic is required and the procedure should cause
no more discomfort than a standard vaccination.

From 6 April 2016, a dog must be microchipped before it comes into the new keeper’s possession. If you are buying a dog from a breeder or from any other place you must
ensure it is chipped before you become the keeper and make sure you update the database with your information.

Councillor Terence Chapman, Arun District Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “Many dog owners already have their pets microchipped, but those who haven’t done so yet need to be aware of the April 2016
deadline. “It can be very traumatic to lose your pet, so we would urge owners with chipped dogs to ensure their details are kept up to date so they can be contacted if their dog is found roaming the street and reunited with them.”
Government figures reveal that more than 100,000 dogs are dumped or lost each year, at a cost of £57m to the taxpayer and welfare charities.

For more information, go to https://www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-microchipped

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