Microchipping Dogs: Law And Its Evolution

In the UK, it became mandatory for all dogs to be microchipped as of April 2016. This law was introduced to make it easier for lost pets to be reunited with their owners and to identify dogs involved in incidents. Microchipping dogs has been compulsory in England, Scotland, and Wales since April 6, 2016, with a fine of up to £500 for non-compliance. The microchipping law for dogs in Northern Ireland was implemented earlier, in 2012.

Microchipping law in the UK

In the UK, it became mandatory for all dogs to have a microchip from April 2016. This law applies to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which had already implemented compulsory microchipping in 2012.

The Microchipping Procedure

Microchipping is a quick, painless, and inexpensive procedure where a tiny electronic chip (about the size of a grain of rice) is implanted under a dog's skin. The chip contains a unique 15-digit number that can be detected by a microchip reader. The procedure is similar to a standard vaccination and can be done by a veterinarian or a trained professional.

Benefits of Microchipping

Microchipping has multiple benefits:

• It helps reunite lost or stolen pets with their owners quickly.
• It makes it easier to identify and track down dogs involved in attacks or incidents.
• It aids in the prosecution of abusers or people involved in illegal breeding or selling of dogs.
• It acts as a permanent form of identification, even if the dog's collar or ID tag is lost.

Requirements for Dog Owners

Dog owners are required by law to ensure their dogs are microchipped and to keep their contact details up to date on an approved database. Puppies must be microchipped by the time they are eight weeks old. Owners who fail to comply with the law may face a fine of up to £500.

Microchipping for Cats

As of 10 June 2024, it will also be mandatory to microchip cats in England. Cat owners will have to ensure their cats over 20 weeks old are microchipped and registered on a compliant database.

Microchip implantation procedure

In the UK, it became compulsory for all dogs to be microchipped on 6 April 2016. The law was introduced to make it easier for lost pets to be reunited with their owners.

Microchips are typically implanted by a veterinarian or at a shelter. The procedure is quick, inexpensive, and harmless, causing little to no pain for the animal. It is similar to a standard injection and does not require surgery or anaesthesia. The microchip is injected under the skin using a hypodermic needle, usually between the dog's shoulder blades. The needle is slightly larger than those used for injections, and the microchip itself is about the size of a grain of rice.

Before inserting the microchip, the veterinarian will scan the animal to check if it already has one. They will also scan the syringe in the package and confirm that the ID number of the microchip matches the barcode label.

Once the implantation site is located, the veterinarian will tent the skin and point the needle towards the animal's head, holding the syringe with the bevel angle of the needle facing up. The needle is then inserted subcutaneously at a slight angle, and the plunger is depressed using a steady motion. As the needle is withdrawn, the skin tent is released, and the area around the needle is gently but firmly pinched. Digital pressure is applied to the entry site for at least ten seconds.

After implantation, the veterinarian will check that the microchip transponder has been fully inserted and scan the site to ensure it is working correctly. It is recommended to keep the pet calm for 24 hours after the procedure.

The microchip must then be enrolled and registered to the owner, along with their contact information, to ensure that a lost pet can be reunited with its owner. It is important to keep the microchip information up-to-date, especially when there are changes in address or contact details.

Microchip registration

Microchipping is a quick and simple procedure that involves inserting a tiny electronic chip (about the size of a grain of rice) under your dog's skin, usually around the scruff of the neck, using a needle. The chip is harmless, and the procedure is inexpensive, painless, and similar to a standard vaccination or injection. It is often done during a routine veterinary visit or while the dog is under anaesthesia for another procedure.

Once the microchip is implanted, it is essential to register it with an authorised or approved database. In the UK, this is a legal requirement and helps reunite lost or stolen pets with their owners. The microchip contains a unique identification number that corresponds to the pet's details on the database. When a lost pet is found and scanned, the microchip number is displayed, allowing the database to be contacted to retrieve the owner's information.

To register your dog's microchip, you will need to provide the following information to the database:

• Your full name and address
• Contact telephone number
• The dog's name, sex, breed or description, colour, and estimated date of birth
• The unique number of the microchip implanted in the dog
• Whether you are also the breeder of the dog

It is important to keep your contact details associated with the microchip up to date. This includes changing your information if you move or change your phone number. You can typically update your details by contacting the database, either over the phone or online, for a small administrative fee.

In the UK, as of 6 April 2016, it became mandatory for all dogs over eight weeks old to be microchipped and their details registered on an approved database. This legislation was introduced to improve dog welfare, make it easier to reunite lost pets with their owners, and help track down owners of dogs involved in attacks. Similar laws and requirements are also being implemented in various states across the US.

Microchip maintenance

In the UK, it became mandatory for all dogs to have a microchip in April 2016. The law was implemented to make it easier for lost or stolen pets to be reunited with their owners.

• Registration: After the microchip is implanted, it is essential to register it with the manufacturer. This is a crucial step as it ensures that your contact details are linked to the microchip, enabling your pet to be traced back to you if they are ever lost or stolen.
• Regular Scanning: It is recommended to ask your veterinarian to scan your dog's microchip at least once a year to ensure that it is still functioning correctly and can be detected. This simple check ensures that the microchip is active and can be read by scanners.
• Keep Information Up-to-Date: It is important to update your registration information whenever your contact details change, such as your phone number or address. This ensures that if your dog is ever lost and their microchip is scanned, the registry has the correct information to contact you and reunite you with your pet.

By following these three steps, you can effectively maintain your dog's microchip, maximising the chances of a swift reunion should your dog ever go missing. It is a straightforward and efficient process that provides peace of mind for dog owners.

Microchip legislation in the US

In the US, there is no federal or state regulation of microchip standards, allowing different manufacturers to produce and patent different microchip technologies with different frequencies. However, some states and cities have their own laws regarding microchipping pets.

Hawaii

Hawaii was the first state to mandate that owners microchip their pets, with this law coming into effect in 2021.

California

California law requires shelters, animal pounds, or animal control to scan for microchips. Once the microchip is scanned and the owner identified, the relevant authority must contact the owner. If the owner fails to pick up the pet after a certain number of days, the animal may be offered for adoption or euthanized.

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia also requires shelters, pounds, or animal control to scan for microchips, and to contact the owner if one is found.

Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas

These states all have similar laws to California and the District of Columbia, requiring shelters, pounds, or animal control to scan for microchips, and to contact owners if a microchip is found.

Microchip Process

The microchipping procedure involves injecting a small electronic chip (about the size of a grain of rice) under the skin, usually around the scruff of the neck, using a hypodermic needle. The chip is not a GPS device and does not have a battery, but it can be activated by a scanner that reads the unique identification number on the chip and displays it on a screen. This number can then be used to retrieve the owner's contact details from a database.

Benefits of Microchipping

Microchipping improves the chances of a lost or stolen pet being returned to its owner. It also helps to quickly reunite stray dogs with their owners, and makes it easier to track down the owners of dogs that carry out attacks.

Frequently asked questions