Odstock Parish Council
This page last updated on 22-Feb-2016
Dog Ownership in 2016: What a dog owner needs to know about his/her responsibilities
in Wiltshire Council's juresdiction.
The UK Government's Press Release on 6 February 2013 set out the rules for compulsory microchipping for all dogs from 6 April 2016.
The following explanation has been provided by the Salisbury Dogs Trust
who can offer free advice about all aspects of dog ownership:
A microchip is a small electronic chip, around the size of a grain of rice, which is implanted under the dog's skin and contains a unique number that can be read by a scanner.
The dog owner's contact details relating to each number are logged on a central database, so should the dog ever go missing or be stolen it can be scanned by the authorities and returned to his owner swiftly and safely. It is vital that the owner takes responsibility for updating their details with the database should their circumstances change.
Microchipping will soon be compulsory in England and Wales, which Dogs Trust have long campaigned for. A microchip is the most effective way of ensuring lost or stolen dogs get reunited with their family. The charity wants to help as many people as possible comply with the new laws by helping to provide the procedure free of charge with the help of vet practices.
It does not hurt the dog. No anaesthetic is required and the procedure should cause no more discomfort than a standard vaccination. If a stray dog is found to have a microchip, the local authority, vet practice or animal welfare organisation will contact the national 24 hour database to find the owner’s details. The owner can then be contacted and reunited with their dog.
Your dog will still need to wear a collar and tag that states the name and address of the owner when in a public place. But from 6th April 2016 all dogs are required to be microchipped, the chip needs to be linked to the owners most current contact information to be compliant.
You may have to pay a fee every time you amend your contact details to the database. Most databases offer a premium service which often works out cheaper over the course of your dogs life. Check with your provider for more details.
All dogs aged 8 weeks and over must be microchipped by 6th April 2016. To be considered as microchipped, a microchip must have been implanted into your dog and your details recorded on an approved database.
If your dog does not have a microchip, or if your current details are not recorded on an approved database, you may be served a notice giving you 21 days to comply.
If you do not comply with the notice, you could face a fine of up to £500 on conviction. Alternatively an enforcer, such as a dog warden, may seize your dog, microchip it and register the details and then recover the cost from you.
