Dog Chip Scheme Goes Nationwide

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Parties agree to put a compulsory dog chipping law on their election manifestoes

Wandsworth Council has welcomed the news that its successful dog chipping initiative may be adopted nationally. All dogs in Britain must be microchipped and their details stored on a national database under cross party plans to be unveiled at the next general election.

Owners who fail to comply will be fined and may lose the right to keep their pet.

Both Labour and the Conservatives support the plan because they believe it will curb the number of stray, neglected, dangerous and stolen dogs.

Wandsworth was the first local authority to bring in a compulsory dog microchipping policy. Under rules introduced in January, all council tenants and leaseholders must get their animals chipped and registered on a borough-wide database. Failure to do so means they will be in breach of their tenancy and lease agreements.

The Council is proud of its extensive programme of dog-chipping ‘roadshows’ at borough estates. The council is chipping tenants’ and leaseholders’ dogs for free for a limited period. Other Wandsworth residents can get their animal chipped for £10.

Wandsworth has been pushing for the scheme to be extended nationwide, because a national database would be far more effective than a series of local ones.

The Dogs Trust has also been campaigning for compulsory microchipping. It has received pledges from Ian Cawsey MP, Labour vice-chair with responsibility for animal welfare, and Andrew Rosindell MP, shadow minister for animal welfare, that a scheme will appear in the election manifestoes of both parties.

Council leader Edward Lister said:
“It’s gratifying that both main political parties have accepted something that has seemed obvious to us for some time.

“The best way to quickly trace the owners of stray or nuisance dogs is to have animals chipped and registered. Most dog owners are responsible, but the small minority who are not must not be allowed to get away with it.”

Clarissa Baldwin, Dogs Trust Chief Executive, said:
“Compulsory microchipping of all dogs is the most effective means of reuniting a stray dog with its owner. Dogs Trust feels the time is now right to review the Control of Dogs Order and make permanent identification a mandatory requirement. Dog ownership is a privilege, not a right, and our dogs should not be treated as throwaway commodities.

October 5, 2009