Frequently Asked Questions

As many of you will already know, microchipping of dogs become compulsory in England from 6th April 2016.

This means that all dogs must be microchipped and registered on one of the authorised commercial databases and with the owner’s/keeper’s details kept up to date.

The purpose of this is to help reunite strays with their owners, help tackle puppy farming, and encourage responsible ownership. In pedigree dogs it facilitates the reporting of hereditary health problems.

What is Microchipping?

A microchip is an identifying integrated circuit implanted under the skin of an animal, usually in the ‘scruff’ of the neck, between the shoulder blades. The chip is about the size of a large grain of rice and uses passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, and is also known as a PIT tag (for Passive Integrated Transponder).

Microchips must be implanted by a Veterinary Surgeon, Veterinary Nurse or a trained and registered implanter. It is a very quick and simple procedure which does not need to be performed under sedation or anaesthetic, unless your Veterinary Surgeon recommends so.

What information is held on a Microchip?

Each microchip contains a unique number which is displayed when the chip is scanned by a specific Microchip scanner. This number is held on one of the authorised commercial databases against the owner’s/keeper’s information such as name, address, contact numbers etc. The dog’s details are also kept on this database i.e. name, breed, age etc. It is important that all information is kept up to date and that any changes to keeper, address, contact numbers are made with the database.

Is there a minimum / maximum age a dog can be Microchipped?

There is no minimum age a dog can be microchipped and, from 6th April 2016, all puppies must be microchipped by the age of 8 weeks. There is also no maximum age for dogs to be microchipped.

Are any dogs exempt?

A dog will be legally exempt from being microchipped only when a vet certifies that it cannot be microchipped for health reasons. This must be issued on a form approved by the Secretary of State.

Will I be fined if my dog is not Microchipped?

Yes. Under the regulations, your dog is considered microchipped when you implant the dog with a chip and register your details on an approved database. If you do not get your dog microchipped or your details registered on an approved database, then you will be considered as not complying with the regulations and a notice may be served. If you do not microchip your dog within 21 days of the served notice, then you will be liable to pay a fine of £500. If any changes of address / contact details etc are not updated on the database, the dog will be considered as not microchipped and the same notice and fine may be applicable.