London : Dog owners in the UK have been asked to microchip their dogs by April 6 to reduce pressure on animal charities and councils looking after lost pets and help the government save 33 million pounds a year, reports PTI.
Under the new rule, dog owners will be fined 500 pounds if they fail to microchip them. It will reduce pressure on animal charities and councils who have to look after lost pets. Local authorities and pet charities could save 33 million pounds a year in dog food, kenneling and rehoming costs if all dogs have the electronic chips identifying their owners, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was quoted as saying by The Telgraph. Figures from vets charity People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals suggest, about 1.5 million dogs – approximately one in every six in the UK – is still not microchipped. According to the charity Dogs Trust, in 2015, 47,596 unclaimed or unwanted dogs were left in council kennels across the UK.
“Microchipping is vital for good dog welfare and a simple solution for responsible pet owners to provide peace of mind and ensure your much-loved dog can be traced.” The cost of microchipping costs between 10 pounds and 30 pounds, although some charities offer it for free.
