Your dog should be microchipped to be compliant with the law in England, Scotland and Wales. The law came into effect on 6 April 2016. To check if your pet’s microchip has up to date owner details, please visit PetLog.

Microchipping is a quick and painless procedure for your dog and has proved for many owners to be a fast and effective way to have their pet returned to them following them taking off while walking or escaping from a property/garden.

The microchip implant is an identifying integrated circuit placed under the skin – it is roughly the size of a large grain of rice and is based on a passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. It is inserted into the scruff of the neck – each microchip has its own unique identification number and once implanted the microchip remains electronically inactive until scanned by a special scanner.

At Sunninghill Veterinary Centre, our reception staff will register your up-to-date address and phone details to a national database and you will receive certification of your pet’s registration in the post.

If your pet is taken to a Vet, Pet Rescue, Dog Warden or the Police for scanning, they can read the unique code from your pet’s microchip and immediately access your details. It’s so quick that in some cases we’ve contacted owners who weren’t even aware that their pets had escaped!

Microchipping your dog – the facts

• New laws on microchipping dogs were brought into effect on 6 April 2016
• Owners of an un-chipped dog will be given 21 days to comply and failure to do so may result in a fine of up to £500. 
• Your dog’s microchip is approximately the size of a grain of rice
• It is implanted into the scruff of the neck in a quick and painless manner
• There is no need for sedation or pain relief for your pet for this process
• Your dog’s microchip has its own unique identification number
• The chip is inactive until scanned
• It is imperative if you move house or re-home a pet that the address and contact details are updated on the national database 
• You can check your pet’s microchip details here