Compulsory dog microchipping comes into force this month - applying to all dogs.
From 6 April 2016 all dogs in England, Scotland and Wales
will be legally required to be microchipped and their up-to-date details registered on one
of the authorised databases. (Northern Ireland has already introduced this
measure.)
From the 6th of April 2016, all dogs must be microchipped and registered to an approved database by the time they are 8 weeks old.
If a keeper of a dog which is not microchipped gets served with a notice requiring them to have the dog chipped, they will have 21 days to do this.
There are no exemptions regarding age. A dog will be legally exempt from being microchipped only when a vet certifies that it cannot be microchipped for health reasons and this needs to done on a form approved by the Secretary of State.
Your dog is considered microchipped when:
~ implanted with a microchip
and
~ the correct details are registered on an approved database.
If you do not get your dog microchipped or your details registered on an approved database, then it will be considered as not complying with the regulations and a notice may be served. If the keeper does not microchip their dogs within 21 days of the served notice, then you will be liable to pay a fine of £500.
If any dog keeper subsequently moves address, changes contact telephone number, etc. then they must keep their database details up-to-date. Failure to do so means that enforcement can be taken and a notice served. If the keeper does not get their details up to date within 21 days of the served notice, then you will be liable to pay a fine of £500.
