Latest news with #microchipping
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Fewer stray reunited with owners, Dogs Trust says
Fewer stray dogs are being reunited with their owners, a charity survey has Dogs Trust, which has a rehoming centre in Newbury, Berkshire, said owners needed to make sure their contact details were up to date to ensure they could be traced. Figures from the Stray Dog Survey revealed that 39% of strays were reunited with their owners in the past year - down from over 50% two years ago. Dogs Trust director Maria Murray said: "We have a crisis on our hands across the animal welfare industry and we are absolutely full to the brim with dogs coming into our rehoming centre." She said the dog population "exploded" during Covid and with "more dogs there is likely to be more strays".The survey revealed that about 60% of stray dogs were microchipped but 47% of those had incorrect details."We've done a really good job of educating owners on the importance of getting their pets microchipped," said Ms Murray. "But they are forgetting when they move, or change their mobile number, to update those details for their pet."She said it was frustrating when microchips were scanned and the phone numbers did not work. "It is heartbreaking not being able to reunite them with their owner," she added. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Warning to check microchip details or face fine
Cat and dog owners have been warned to microchip their pets, and make sure the details are correct, or risk facing a fine worth hundreds of pounds. It comes after Violet Cooper, from Dilton Marsh in Westbury, Wiltshire, was fined nearly £850 for failing to update the details on the database of her dog's microchip. Juliet, her chow chow-type dog, was found by a member of the public in August 2024. Considered a stray, it was taken to a local vets to await collection by Wiltshire Council's Dog Warden team. Ms Cooper, 38, soon arrived in search of her dog and was issued with a notice requiring her to update the microchip details within 21 days, but she failed to do so. Last week she was found guilty at Salisbury Magistrates Court of failing to comply with the notice and was fined £220, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Costs of £539.59 awarded to Wiltshire Council, along with a victim surcharge of £88, brought the total in fines to £847.59. It became compulsory for all dogs to be microchipped in April 2016, and for cats in 2023. Councillor Paul Sample of Wiltshire Council said: "Microchipping a cat or dog is a permanent way of identifying your pet if they get lost or stolen. "If your pet goes missing, our officers can scan the microchip and get them home safely. "Hopefully, this outcome will act as a costly reminder to all dog or cat owners to ensure that their pet is microchipped and that details on the chip are up-to-date. "We will not hesitate to prosecute those who fail to comply." Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Local Democracy Reporting Service Wiltshire Council Pet database still plagued with problems, say users Pets detached from owners in database 'cock-up' Dog microchip date set for England
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Warning to check pet microchip details or face fine
Cat and dog owners have been warned to microchip their pets, and make sure the details are correct, or risk facing a fine worth hundreds of pounds. It comes after Violet Cooper, from Dilton Marsh in Westbury, Wiltshire, was fined nearly £850 for failing to update the details on the database of her dog's her chow chow-type dog, was found by a member of the public in August 2024. Considered a stray, it was taken to a local vets to await collection by Wiltshire Council's Dog Warden Cooper, 38, soon arrived in search of her dog and was issued with a notice requiring her to update the microchip details within 21 days, but she failed to do so. 'Costly reminder' Last week she was found guilty at Salisbury Magistrates Court of failing to comply with the notice and was fined £220, the Local Democracy Reporting Service of £539.59 awarded to Wiltshire Council, along with a victim surcharge of £88, brought the total in fines to £ became compulsory for all dogs to be microchipped in April 2016, and for cats in Paul Sample of Wiltshire Council said: "Microchipping a cat or dog is a permanent way of identifying your pet if they get lost or stolen. "If your pet goes missing, our officers can scan the microchip and get them home safely."Hopefully, this outcome will act as a costly reminder to all dog or cat owners to ensure that their pet is microchipped and that details on the chip are up-to-date. "We will not hesitate to prosecute those who fail to comply."
