Torridge Check A Chip Day! October 24th Northam Burrows

Dog owners are being encouraged to put Monday 24^th October into their diaries to come along to Northam Burrows between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, to get their dog's microchip checked by Torridge District Council's Environmental Team. Ensuring dogs microchips have the most current information is designed to keep people's pets safe and greatly increase the likelihood of a lost dog being reunited with their owners.

As a nation of dog lovers, microchipping is crucial for both excellent dog welfare and to provide dog owners with peace of mind. In April 2016, it also became compulsory for every dog to have an up-to-date microchip with the dog's details uploaded to an approved UK database. Breeders must also ensure that their puppies are microchipped before they leave for their new home.

The microchips in use in the UK are passive devices no bigger than a grain of rice and once in place can be scanned by a hand-held reader. The 15-digit identification code can then be checked against the microchip databases to quickly identify the owner. Microchipping is a relatively simple process undertaken by all veterinary surgeons or anyone trained to carry out the procedure. The procedure is no more uncomfortable than a standard vaccination injection.

Councillor Philip Hackett - Lead Member for the Environment, Health, Wellbeing, and Community Safety said:

"The Check a Chip Day is an excellent opportunity to ensure your pet's microchip is up to date and can be something people overlook when they move home. Unfortunately, some pets do go missing from time to time, and thieves sometimes also target dogs. Anything that can help and assist people to be reunited with their much-loved pet, can only be a good thing. Dog owners with incorrect or unregistered chip information could also face a fine of up to £500 under the microchipping law. The team will be next to the RNLI hut, so bring your dog along to get your chip checked and enjoy a long walk on the beach and Burrows!"