Stirling’s Animal Control Team has recently reported a significant number of stray dogs which when picked up have been microchipped but not registered to their owners.
These instances can occur when a pet owner fails to update a change in circumstance, such as moving home, to the database operator. Microchipping dogs has been a requirement in Scotland since 2016, however chips are only effective with accurate and timely information.
'Avoid stress, delays and potential penalties'
Stirling Council’s Environment, Transport and Net Zero Convener, Cllr Jen Preston said: “A microchip is not a GPS tracker for a pet and is only as helpful as the information registered to it.
“The stressful scenario of a pet going missing is only exacerbated for owners if a dog is picked up by our animal control team and they have no accurate contact information to trace them, causing delays and potential financial penalties.
“Please ensure that your dog’s microchip is fully up to date today. If you are not sure which database your dog is on, any DEFRA-compliant database can help, just give them your dog’s microchip number. If you don’t have the number to hand, your local vet can scan the chip and provide it for you.”