All dogs in the UK must be microchipped

2016 marked a big change in dog law across the UK, with a law in April 2016 coming into effect that every dog in England and Scotland will have to be microchipped.

Under the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015

– the laws that were made in February 2015, it is now compulsory for all dogs over the age of eight weeks, to be fitted with microchips. It is hoped that microchipping will promote responsible dog ownership, thousands of dogs are lost and stolen each year, costing the taxpayer and welfare charities an estimated £33 million per year. A microchip makes it much easier to reunite a dog with their owner.

Dogs will need to be microchipped and registered with their keepers contact details, which will be officially registered with an approved microchip database. The only exception is where a vet has certified that the dog is unfit in writing.

Getting your dog microchipped is easy, some vets and charities will do it for free, to find out more, contact your local vet or local dog charity.

If a dog gains the attention of the authorities, it’s owner may face criminal prosecution or a fine.

This include anyone breeding dogs, puppies will need to be chipped and all imported dogs will need to have a microchip.
Microchipping for dogs in Wales became law in March 2015, whilst compulsary microchipping in April 2012 was introduced firstly in Northern island.