Pet Haven

That’s the question that many dog owners are considering these days.  The law requires your pooch to be identified with a collar and tag that shows your name and address so there’s no legal reason to do it, so why should you give it any more thought?

Well first of all, you should know that the microchip isn’t like something in your mobile phone or computer.  It’s actually about the size of a grain of rice.  As it’s planted under the surface of the skin it can’t move around and create health issues for your dog, and it’s a quick and relatively painless procedure for your veterinary to carry out.  Costing around £20 it’s not too expensive, especially as it’s a one-off fee, and once the chip is inserted you can move as many times as you want – all that changes is the information that’s held on the national PetLog database. 

Although you benefit from the peace of mind of knowing that if your dog wanders off, as dogs occasionally do, any police station, RSCPA rescue, or even veterinary will only need to scan the dog to find out where you are so that you can be reunited, your dog is the one who benefits most from the microchip.  A collar and ID tag is only good as long as it’s not removed or falls off.  If your dog is lost in a unfamiliar area, and becomes separated from his collar, that makes finding you almost impossible.  Anyone who does pick him up will take him to a dog rescue area where he faces an uncertain future as a stray, no matter how rounded and well fed he looks they won’t keep him forever. If you've paid out for pet insurance and your dog is injured, expensive treatment will not be given unless the vet knows his fees are going to be covered by the vet insurance company.If he has a microchip however, once they scan him (rather like the handheld scanners used at the supermarket) they will find that he does indeed have an owner, will contact you and organize how to get him back to you.  In short, that microchip could save his life.

So if you’ve got the £20, next time your pooch is at the veterinary’s office for his annual booster shot, seriously think about having a microchip inserted at the same time.  You may still keep the collar and tag for “accessories” but at least you’ll know that if he goes missing, it doesn’t matter if his collar is removed or not, the microchip is what will identify him as your dog and hopefully have him back to you within a relatively short period of time.

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