Microchipping of dogs: guidance for local authorities

Benefits of mandatory microchipping

Where associated details are registered on a database and kept up-to-date, microchipping has an invaluable role in re-uniting lost or stolen dogs with their keepers. The new rules on microchipping of dogs will help improve the effectiveness of this process and it is anticipated that they will also bring wider ranging benefits:

• more efficient re-uniting of dog dogs with thier keeper or owner -the number of dogs reunited with keepers will be significantly increased by ensuring that all dogs are microchipped and all keepers and dogs are registered on a database and details kept up to date
• simplified microchip checking - requiring standardised types of microchips, standardised information to be kept on the database, appropriate access to the data held; and systems for cross-referring between different microchip databases also aids re-unification by simplifying checking for microchips, making it easier to find details associated with any microchip, and ensuring that the appropriate persons can access those details
• less time in kennels - all these factors will help to speed up re-unification, eliminating the need for dogs to spend time in strange kennels in many instances and minimising it in others. This will benefit the lost/stolen dogs concerned, and free up much needed space in animal shelters for other abused or abandoned dogs
• greater keeper accountability - mandatory microchipping will help identify the keepers of dogs involved in animal welfare incidents or dog attacks, helping to encourage more responsible dog ownership 
• prevention and detection of dog welfare crimes - it could help to deter opportunistic dog theft by making it harder to sell such stolen dogs on.  It could help to trace those breeding or dealing significant numbers of dogs illegally without a licence, or those breeding dogs irresponsibly, for example in the case of genetic defects that affect welfare