Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Lily, made a dash for the outdoors, only to leave her owners frantically worried as to her whereabouts. Luckily she was reunited with her owner from Pimlico at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home because she was microchipped.
The six year old Staffie was found at Pimlico Station and brought into Battersea where staff carried out a routine microchip scan that showed up her owner’s details.
Lily’s owner Karen Viera said: “Because the weather was so hot we had the door open with the baby gate closed, but we just didn’t realise how easy it would be for her to escape. Our other dog accompanied us as we searched the area and I put out updates on my Facebook and Twitter so people could help me search for her. We are so grateful to Battersea for looking after her and contacting us. I’m so glad we had her microchipped, we might never have seen her again if we hadn’t.”
Karen and her mum noticed Lily wasn’t in the dog bed where she was last seen and began searching in and around their home. It soon became clear that Lily had jumped over the baby gate that was locked by the open door and made a leap for outside.
As the warm weather continues across the UK, Battersea urges pet owners to be extra vigilant when doors and windows are left open in case their pets go missing. More than 65 per cent of all dogs arriving at Battersea are not microchipped with their owner’s details, making it difficult and sometimes impossible to successfully reunite lost pets with their worried owners.
Liz McWalter, Head of Intake at Battersea said: “It was fantastic to be able to reunite Lily and Karen so soon after she went missing and really highlights the importance of microchipping. Battersea offers free microchipping for dog owners at our three centres in London, Kent, and Windsor, and if you haven’t already got your dog chipped we’d urge you to take this simple step to ensure you can be reunited with your pet should you get parted.”
Earlier this year, the Government announced that all dogs in England must be microchipped by April 2016. To support and promote this vital initiative, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is working with Lambeth Council to offer free microchipping, name tag engraving and advice about responsible dog ownership on Tuesday 6 August at Stockwell Gardens Estate.
Earlier this month, the Government announced that all dogs in England must be microchipped by April 2016. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is offering a free microchipping and name tag engraving service at Windrush Square, Brixton on Monday 4 March, and Ruskin Park, Denmark Hill on Wednesday 13 March from 11am – 4pm.
Less than one third of all dogs arriving at Battersea are microchipped and the charity believes permanent identification of dogs will help to reduce the problem of stray dogs and help reunite more pets with their owners.
All dogs must be microchipped in the UK from 2016.
Here's the response from the RSPCE to Defra's announcement today:
New Government dog measures lack bite, says RSPCA
Coalition breaks promise to “target irresponsible owners”
Monday 23 April 2012
The Government has wasted the best opportunity to tackle irresponsible dog ownership in more than 20 years, claimed the RSPCA today.
The country’s biggest animal welfare charity has accused Defra of ignoring the advice of the country’s dog law enforcement agencies, and instead launching yet another unnecessary consultation.
Getting scanners into as many places as possible will help reunite lost dogs with their people and discourage dog theft. Excellent news!
Defra has today revealed plans to enforce every dog in the UK to have a microchip. Here is Dogs Trust's response:
Dogs Trust response to Defra’s announcement on Dangerous Dogs and Microchipping
23rd April 2012
I'm a great believer in microchipping - both our dogs and both our cats are microchipped. It seems to me the best way to improve the odds of getting your dog back to you should he be lost or stolen. If you're interested in microchipping your pet, here's an opportunity to find out more about it, and you can ask Emma anything you'd like to know about microchipping in the space above.
The headline Family's heartbreak as council rehome runaway dog during holiday caught my eye, and on reading a very sad story emerged. Scamp, a beautiful Lhasa Apso had been part of the de Lacy family for five years, since they rescued her from a dog shelter. They lived happily in Monmouth, Wales. However when the couple went on vacation, they left Scamp in the care of the daughter in Liverpool.
