DOGS TRUST COMMENDS NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY ON COMMITMENT TO COMPULSORY MICROCHIPPING

Just had this from Dogs Trust:
 
DOGS TRUST COMMENDS NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY ON COMMITMENT TO COMPULSORY MICROCHIPPING

Animal welfare charity Dogs Trust, which has a Rehoming Centre in Ballymena, has welcomed an announcement that the Committee stage of the Dogs (Amendment) Bill has been completed by the Northern Ireland Assembly. If passed, the Bill will make it compulsory for all Northern Irish dogs to be microchipped.

Chris Laurence, Dogs Trust Veterinary Director gave evidence to The Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development in October putting forward the case for the introduction of compulsory microchipping. He comments:

“Dogs Trust welcomes the commitment of the Northern Ireland Assembly to recognise and act on the need for microchipping to be made compulsory. Dogs Trust will continue to actively support compulsory microchipping by assisting the general public and local authorities in the year prior to the implementation of the Bill.
Last year alone over 8,870 stray dogs were picked up by local authorities in Northern Ireland; a shocking 2,278* of which were put to sleep. Dogs Trust believes compulsory microchipping is the best way to help reduce the stray dog problem in Northern Ireland and to help reunite lost pets with their owners

Dogs Trust will continue to call for microchipping to be made compulsory for dogs across the whole of the UK. “

A microchip is a small electronic device, the size of a grain of rice, which is implanted under the skin between a dog’s shoulder blades. The microchip is coded with a unique number and is stored on a database. If a dog is ever lost its owners can then easily be traced.

Microchipping normally costs around £20 - £40 however at its Ballymena Rehoming Centre Dogs Trust offers this (by appointment) at a reduced rate of just £10.The charity also runs regular roadshow events across Northern Ireland offering free microchipping and neutering vouchers to dog owners on means-tested benefits. For more information please contact Dogs Trust Ballymena on 028 2565 2977.