Free Microchipping For Wrexham Dog Owners

Free microchipping is to be offered to dog owners across Wrexham this week.

The Dogs Trust Campaigns Team will be at Ponciau Banks Park Pavilion, Off Baptist Street in Ponciau tomorrow between 11am and 2pm. The team will also be at Penycae FC car park, Afoneitha Road in Penycae between 3:30pm and 6:30pm.

North Wales Police PCSOs will also be on hand as will staff from other agencies including Wrexham Council’s enforcement department, housing and community safety.

A microchip is a small electronic chip the size of a grain of rice which is implanted under the dogs skin between their shoulder blades. It is an injection using a sterile needle and no anesthetic is required. The procedure, which is carried out by a vet, vet nurse or trained microchip implanter, takes only a few minutes and lasts a lifetime.

Once your pet is microchipped, you and your pet’s details are stored in a microchip database along with the microchip’s unique 15 digit code.

When a missing pet is found, an animal professional (for example a vet or dog warden) will scan the pet revealing the microchip’s unique 15 digit code, and contact the microchip database your pet is registered with. The customer care team will perform some security checks before releasing your contact details to the animal professional – so that your pet can be reunited with you. If you find a dog, it is a legal requirement that you contact the local authorities so a dog warden can come and scan the animal for a microchip. As more dogs are being microchipped ahead of the deadline it is very likely that the owner will be contacted and the dog can be returned to his or her home with their family and we all love a happy ending.

Once the new rules come into effect, if a dog without a microchip comes to the attention of the authorities, its owner may be served with a notice requiring the dog to be microchipped, and may face criminal prosecution and a £500 fine if they do not comply with the notice. Anyone breeding dogs will be responsible for microchipping their puppies before they sell or give them to new keepers and all imported dogs will need to have a microchip. A breeder, which is defined as the owner of the bitch, will be required to register their own details and these will be recorded against the microchip for the life of the dog.

There is no appointment necessary for the microchipping, just bring your dog along on the day.

For further information please contact Laura at Dogs Trust on 07443981713 or Louise on 07443981793. Alternatively you can visit www.chipmydog.org.uk