Pet owners encouraged to microchip family pets

Animal welfare groups have outlined plans to encourage pet insurance policy holders to microchip their pet dogs and cats during the month of June - National Microchipping Month.

According to Pet Product Marketing Magazine, only 30 per cent of the UK's 20 million pet cats and dogs are currently microchipped, though parliamentary debates in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England may soon result in mandatory pet microchipping.

Microchipping has been implemented over the past twenty years as a means of tracking lost, missing or stolen pets.

Microchipping involves inserting a radio frequency identification transponder under a pet animal's skin. The microchip is then programmed with a unique pet identification number which can be used to trace missing, lost or stolen animals.

Veterinary care professionals can also register pet medical records against a pet identification ID.

Most recently, microchipping has been used at border controls to identify pets with an approved pet passport and pets that have had up-to-date vaccinations.

Jean-Miguel Robadey, global director of a leading pet microchipping service provider, told the pet publication that microchipping had increased in popularity in recent years as pet owners look to safeguard their pets while also taking advantage of more convenient pet travel on family holidays.

"Keeping beloved pets safe is a top priority for pet owners, and microchipping offers a quick, safe and relatively painless solution to help protect animals from harm," Robadey said.

During National Microchipping Month, some pets may be eligible for free or discounted microchipping.

Thu, 26 May 2011 00:36:00 GMT