7 minute read
Pets
The ins and outs of microchips...
by Lynn Broom Longmead Veterinary Practice
Microchips became available in 1989 in pets to provide a permanent form of identification. In 2016 it became a legal requirement in the UK for all dogs to be microchipped from eight weeks of age. Owners are given 21 days to comply and risk a £500 fine for non-compliance.
It also became a requirement that the first registered owner of puppies from a litter is the breeder so that the puppy can be traced back even if the new owner fails to get the chip registered to themselves.
The Control of Dogs Order 1992 still requires that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the owner’s name – initial and surname – address and postcode engraved or written on it, or engraved on a dog identity tag. Dogs not wearing a tag can be seized by the dog warden and a fine be charged for their return if found wandering.
It is not yet a legal requirement for cats to be microchipped, although this requirement has been proposed and is likely to become law under plans already formulated
The Government has formulated plans for compulsory microchipping of cats. PHOTO: Mabel Amber/ Pixabay by the Government. It would be required from 20 weeks of age and, like dogs, owners would be given 21 days to comply or risk a £500 fine.
It makes sense to get your cat chipped. If a cat is injured or dies outside it is very difficult to locate its owner without a chip. Cats without distinctive markings can be very difficult to accurately identify. Cats may travel long distances and may be taken to a vets away from their home making social media ineffective at locating their owners.
Collars with tags are less suitable for cats because of the risk of them getting caught up or lost. Only quick release collars should be used as significant injuries can be caused by cats getting caught by their collars. A paper one – so that it will tear if caught up – can be used if you need other people to know that your cat is owned if it is prone to wandering or visiting other homes. If you look on any Facebook page there are daily reports of missing or found cats. Cats are unique in our pets in that they are allowed to roam freely. This allows them to go where they like, visit who they like and move home permanently if they choose. Microchipping provides a quick, simple way to identify a cat and contact their owner to establish if they are missing or lost or, as is often the way, choosing to visit new areas.
Unfortunately, many chips do not have their registered details updated when contact information changes. Many pets brought in to vets have chips but their owners cannot be contacted because of this. Please update details, provide multiple phone numbers and email addresses to minimise the risk of being uncontactable.
Many other species are also microchipped. It is a legal requirement in horses and CITES-restricted species of tortoises. It is also sensible to chip other species including rabbits, ferrets and birds, as well as other species of tortoise.
It is demoralising for veterinary staff when a sick, injured or deceased animal is brought in without a chip or with out-of-date details. We do our best to trace owners but sometimes welfare issues or time constraints mean decisions have to be made in the absence of the owner to ensure the animal’s best interests are considered.
MUCKY PUPS DOG GROOMER Friars Moor Sturminster Newton Contact Gloria 07784 332682 muckypupsfrance@yahoo.com http://muckypups-bee-online.com 15 years experience in dog grooming
Companions at Peace Pet Cremation
Independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners. Collection Service Farewell Room Out of Hours Service provided Located in a rural countryside setting on the Somerset Dorset border
KITTENS FOR SALE, friendly, several colours 01963 458199 GUINEA PIGS, ALL COLOURS, various ages, male and female - £5 each loving home - 01963 458199
F1B COCKERPOOS available mum can be seen all black and one liver please call for more information 07596 286649
BANTAMS FOR SALE Pretty birds hatched this year. £10 each Tel: 07823 559249
CAVAPOO PUPPIES FOR SALE Merle, Spotted and White 3 girls 2 boys Available from mid September Please Call Amber 07525 750996
WEIMARANER PUPPIES. Amazing parents, good breeding. Loving with children, adults and other family animals. Fully wormed, 1st and 2nd vaccination, microchipped and KC registered. If seriously interested please contact 07521 136185
BLACK & WHITE KITTENS £40 01963 362351 3 BLACK KITTENS FOR SALE, ready now, young ducks available would make ideal pets Tel 01747 828736 JACK RUSSELL X LAKELAND PUP'S. Show parents. Pup's JRT colour. £900. docked dewclawed, vet certificate. Also Jack Russell bitch pup 15 weeks old, rough coat. £950. 07779 685709 LOVELY CLUMBER CROSS COCKER PUPPIES for sale. Will make excellent working dogs or lovely family pets please contact Sophie 07444 892321 for more information
KITTENS £20 EACH Various colours. All female Ready now. Yeovil 07967 478793
CAN YOU BE A FOREVER HOME? Mid Dorset Branch Cats Protection
CATS LOOKING FOR NEW HOMES
We urgently need outside homes for a number of farm/feral cats. If you have a farm/stables/ground and can help, please contact us.
Tiny (three months). Tiny little girl, bundle of fun, will suit any family home.
Hattie (one). Black and white. Needs understanding home as has never been outside. Looking for possible garden home.
Millie (nine). Gorgeous fluffy tabby and white girl, desperate for love and attention but a little shy. Needs a quiet, safe home. Roo (three months). Lovely little dumpling of a kitten. Timid but affectionate. Needs home with no other animals.
Max (four). Lovely friendly black boy will suit any family home.
Nero (one). Black and white boy. Friendly – needs quiet home to build his confidence.
OUR LOST AND FOUND CATS
These are the cats which have most recently been lost or found – please check out our Facebook page or give us a call.
LOST CATS
If you have lost a cat please contact us via our website, phone or Facebook. Please make sure we have a contact phone number so we can get in touch with you quickly if needed. n Black cat still missing from
Alexandra Street, Blandford since July. Chipped but no collar.
FOUND CATS
If you are regularly seeing a cat in your garden or down your street which you don’t think has an owner, please give us a call. It might be a lost cat that could be reunited with its owner. n Pale ginger/white tabby found in Stalbridge. n Black and white female found Child Okeford. We are still offering neutering and micro-chipping for £5 in postcode areas DT10, DT11, SP5, SP7, BH21 and now also in SP8. Phone 01258 268695.
BEHAVIOUR TIPS
Tip#22 Punishment?
Punishment is defined as ‘the application of a stimulus that decreases the chance that a behaviour will be repeated’.
Reprimanding or punishing your dog for a misdeed comes naturally to many owners. However, it is often ineffective and, worse, often causes or worsens behavioural problems, particularly aggression.
Dogs do not understand English, and despite what owners believe, don’t usually understand exactly what the punishment – which they will perceive as unprovoked aggression – is for or how to avoid it. Plus punishment does not teach the dog what behaviour is wanted.
Behaviours often perceived as indicating ‘guilt’ have been shown to be fearful or appeasement behaviours – that is behaviours designed to reduce or stop aggression.Since aggression is almost always a response to a perceived threat, punishing a dog for showing aggression is particularly damaging and often actually increases aggressive behaviour. This is because the original ‘threat’ is now even more threatening – as bad or scary things often happen in its presence.
This may not happen immediately – indeed, punishment often appears to ‘work’ at first – and will not always be directed at the original target. This is why clinical animal behaviourists do not use punishment to try to solve behaviour problems. Helen Taylor BSc(Hons) ADipCBM; Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB); ABTC register of Clinical Animal Behaviourists and Animal Training Instructors; Member APBC & APDT (881); Phone: 07951 985193; help@ helentaylordorset.co.uk; www.helentaylordorset. co.uk
MID DORSET CATS PROTECTION
Loving homes needed for cats and kittens in our care.
