Stray dogs surge in Torridge sees owners warned to get pets chipped and tagged

Dog owners have been urged to abide by the law and get their pets chipped and tagged after a surge of stray dogs picked up in Torridge by council staff.

Torridge District Council is reminding owners it is now a legal requirement to ensure their dogs are microchipped and are wearing a collar and tag while they are outside.

The council said in the past few months its Neighbourhood Team has picked up an increasing number of dogs that don’t have tags or microchips.

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Thankfully the team was able to reunite these loved and wanted dogs with their owners, but it seems some owners are still not following the legal requirement for every dog to have an up-to-date microchip with the dog's details uploaded to an approved UK database. Cats must also be microchipped by law.

Breeders must ensure puppies are microchipped before they are allowed to leave for their new home. Failure to register your dog or cat could result in a fine of up to £500.

Dogs in a public place must by law also wear a collar and tag bearing the name and contact details of the owner. Failure to do so is also an offence and owners can be fined up to £5,000 if caught.

Councillor Philip Hackett at Torridge District Council, said: “Microchipping a cat or dog is a permanent way of identifying your pet if they get lost or stolen – so it’s vital that pet owners ensure that their pet is microchipped and that details on the chip are up to date. 

“A lost pet can be distressing for both the animal and the owner. If your pet does go missing, our officers can scan the microchip and get them home safely.”

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Microchips are no bigger than a grain of rice and once in place can be easily scanned by a hand-held reader. The 15-digit identification code can then be checked against microchip databases to quickly identify the legal owner and the address currently registered to the chip. It is also important to update the database if your address or contact details change.

Microchipping is a simple process undertaken by all veterinary surgeons or anyone trained to carry out the procedure, which is no more uncomfortable than a standard vaccination injection.

If you have found a stray dog, please either contact the owner, if details are available, or contact the Torridge environmental protection team on 01237 428700 between 9am and 4pm.

For more information, please visit www.torridge.gov.uk