Naturewatch Foundation
Naturewatch Foundation - Advancing Animal Welfare
The UK government has announced it intends to improve the way microchipping of dogs and cats works in England, which is welcome news.
It has promised to:
- Set up a new search facility so that vets and enforcement personnel can look for microchip information in one place – this is important because there are lots of different microchip databases and they currently have to be contacted one-by-one to locate a missing pet’s owner. A single search facility will make it easier to find information quickly so that lost pets can be reunited with their owners more easily.
- Give the police, local authorities and vets ‘approved user’ status so they can access the search facility. However, Defra has not confirmed whether it will give rescue centres access and will instead work with database operators on how to best take that forward.
- Ensure database operators send annual reminders to owners to check microchip information is up-to-date. This is important because incorrect information on a microchip is a common reason why attempts to reunite lost pets and owners fail.
- Make it mandatory for information about a dog’s breeder and mum to remain permanently on a dog’s microchip to help with enforcement.
Way back in 2022, we responded to Defra’s consultation on these proposals and we’re pleased they’re being taken forward. However, there isn’t much time for the government to introduce these measures as there will be a general election at some point this year. We also need to see more detail around how these proposals will work in practice to ensure they’re effective.
Defra has said it will make changes to the Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023. We’ll bring you further updates as things develop.
The post Improvements to microchipping in England announced first appeared on Naturewatch Foundation and is written by Morwenna.