Vets Get Scanning are members of the Microchipping Alliance and have campaigned for compulsory microchipping since 2009
Members of the Microchipping Alliance include: Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Blue Cross, BVA, Cats Protection, Communication Workers Union, Dog Theft Action, Dogs Trust, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Kennel Club, PDSA, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, RSPCA, Vets Get Scanning and Wood Green Animal Shelter.
The Alliance has welcomed the Government’s long-awaited announcement that Compulsory Microchipping will be introduced on the 6th April ‘2016, which it believes will:
Promote animal welfare and responsible dog ownership
Bring dogs and owners back together more quickly and effectively
Improve the current situation surrounding stray dogs by minimising the need for unidentified lost dogs to be rehomed
Improve traceability generally
The Microchipping Alliance estimated that annual cost savings to local authorities relating to dog welfare alone could be between £20.8 million and £23.2 million from the first year of introducing legislation.
SADLY NOT ALL MEMBERS OF THE MICROCHIPPING ALLIANCE SUPPORT COMPULSORY SCANNING FOR MICROCHIPS.
AGAINST COMPULSORY SCANNING:- BVA, RCVS, PDSA, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, The Kennel Club.
SUPPORTING COMPULSORY SCANNING:- Doglost, Dog Theft Action and Vets Get Scanning.
MICROCHIPPING: SUPPORT COMPULSORY MICROCHIPPING
Would you be able to spare five minutes to help us make the microchipping of dogs compulsory?
Dogs Trust has been leading the campaign calling on the government to introduce compulsory microchipping for all dogs in the UK and a requirement for owners’ details to remain up to date on a national database. We have recently formed the Microchipping Alliance which brings together over 15 organisations including leading animal welfare organisations, assistance dog charities and veterinary bodies to lobby collectively on the issue.
Microchipping is the most effective way of ensuring lost dogs are returned to their owners. However of the 8.2 million pet dogs currently in the UK, more than a third remain unidentifiable. This poses a serious welfare issue. In 2010 local authorities took in over 121,000 stray dogs, of those dogs taken in by authorities last year, 6,404 were put to sleep. Dealing with these dogs cost a combined estimate of £25.9 million worth of taxpayers and charities’ money. If more dogs were microchipped, more could be returned to their owners and the cost to authorities would be vastly reduced, as well as ease the stress and worry to dogs and their owners.
Our campaign has already seen significant support and we know that DEFRA are carefully considering the issue. We would therefore like to ask for your help by asking you to consider writing to relevant Ministers so they can see first hand the level of public support that exists for our campaign.
If you have five minutes we would ask you to write to the Rt Hon Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for DEFRA and if you can spare ten minutes, also write to Lord Henley, Minister for Animal Welfare. We suggest you use the template below but would strongly recommend you personalise the letter for maximum effect and explain in your own words why having your dog microchipped is so important to you as a responsible dog owner.
Thank you so much for your time in helping us to advocate this important welfare issue, together I believe we really can make a difference to dogs.
Thank you again!
Clarissa Baldwin OBE
Dogs Trust Chief Executive
Microchipping makes Sense:
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has renewed its call for compulsory microchipping of all dogs in response to two major reports on dogs today.
Dogs Trust revealed the number of stray dogs in the UK has reached an eleven year high with over 126, 176 dogs picked up by local authorities in the last 12 months and around 20 dogs a day being put to sleep.
Guide Dogs released new research showing seven attacks per month on guide dogs by other dogs over the last 14 months. These shocking statistics signify the failure of some owners to properly control and manage their dogs in public.
Commenting, Harvey Locke, President of the BVA, said:
“These hard hitting reports expose the heartache and financial costs that arise when dog owners fail to take their responsibilities seriously.
“Although compulsory microchipping is not a magic wand, it would prove enormously helpful in increasing the number of dogs that can be reunited with their owners, reducing the number of dogs that are in kennels or euthanised, making it easier to identify irresponsible owners, and promoting the responsible ownership message.
“The BVA is a member of the Microchipping Alliance, which is calling on Government to introduce compulsory microchipping of dogs to save taxpayers’ money and promote better dog welfare.
“We hope these reports from the Dogs Trust and Guide Dogs will encourage Ministers to take urgent action.”
Further Information
BVA is a member of the Microchipping Alliance. Other members include: Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Blue Cross, Cats Protection, Communication Workers Union, Dog Theft Action, Dogs Trust, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Kennel Club, PDSA, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, RSPCA, Vets Get Scanning, Doglost and Wood Green Animal Shelter.
