Grantham pet expert urges owners to check microchip details or risk a £500 fine

Microchipping might seem like a formality, but it can make all the difference if your pet goes missing, writes Sara Barnes from Who Lets Your Dog Out? and the Dog Adventure Centre.

When did you last check your pet’s microchip?

June is National Pet Microchipping Month. With the law now stating that all dogs must be microchipped before they are eight weeks old, and since June 2024 all cats must be microchipped before they are 20 weeks old, it is important to ensure the details held on the database where your microchip is registered are up to date.

Did you know that if your pet isn’t microchipped or the details are not up to date, you could be fined up to £500?

Many people change their contact number every time they change jobs, or in some cases when they get a new phone contract. I’ve had mine for over 20 years, but I accept that I am probably in the minority.

Checking and updating, if necessary, the microchip details held for your pet should be an annual task that you pop in your diary.

Some databases will charge you to change the ownership of a registered microchip; others will let you update your contact details for free.

The basic information that should be stored includes your name, address, phone number and email address, so people can get in touch if your pet goes missing.

If you aren’t sure which database your microchip is registered with, you can search using the website www.check-a-chip.co.uk.

Now it’s not just dogs and cats that can be microchipped – many people who own rabbits or other pets that wander outside choose to microchip them just in case, as they might not have a collar or tag to help identify them.

Your vet should have your pet’s microchip number on record, but if not, you can contact them or a local pet professional you know.

They may have a microchip scanner that can be waved over the pet to find the number. It is a painless process for your pet.

It’s also worth noting that microchips can move over time, although they generally remain in the same area of the body.