What is microchipping?
Microchipping is a simple, safe and quick procedure and one that can make all the difference in being reunited with your pet should they stray or go missing.
The microchip is approximately the size of a grain of rice and the procedure takes only a few minutes.
Once your pet is microchipped, you and your pet's details are stored in a microchip database along with the microchip's unique 15 digit code. The microchip is not a GPS device and does not allow you to track your pets movements.
When a missing pet is found, an animal professional (for example a vet or dog warden) will scan the pet revealing the microchip's unique 15 digit code, and contact the microchip database your pet is recorded with.
As long as the details on the database are kept up to date you should then be able to be contacted to let you know your pet has been found.
Microchipping & the law
It is now a legal requirement for all dogs in England to be microchipped and the details of the chip kept up to date.
Dog breeders must ensure that puppies are microchipped and recorded by the time they are 8 weeks old and before they are sold.
When a dog is transferred, the new owners details must be added to the database.