Having your dog microchipped can make a lot of difference when looking for and trying to identify a missing dog.
Since April 2016 it has been a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped by 8 weeks of age.
Each microchip has a unique number that must be registered on a Government approved database along with information about your dog and you as its owner. If your dog is not registered on one of these databases you can be fined.
It is important that the information is kept up-to-date so that if your dog does go missing, you can be contacted at the correct phone number or address.
Reporting it to the police as soon as possible is also important, including making us aware of the microchip number so we can record this on our database. This will make it easier for us to identify any dogs that are found and check to see if they have been reported as missing or stolen.
It is also recommended to record the loss or theft of your dog online using sites dedicated to finding lost and stolen dogs. Often these sites work with police and other organisations, such as local Neighbourhood Watch Groups and Vetinary practices, to try and find them.
More information on microchipping your dog can be found on the Government website.
In 2016, the Dogs Trust recorded that 9,000 stray dogs were reunited with their owners due to having a microchip with up-to-date details.
The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) also reported that in 2017, 11% of dog owners did not realise that it was a requirement by law to have their dog microchipped and a further 7% had not updated their details when they needed to.
Message Sent By
Caitlin Rosetti (Police, Communications Support Assistant, Thames Valley Police)