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14 Jun 01

MICROCHIP YOUR PET!

Pet owners in Poole are being offered the chance to microchip their pets at a reduced price. For two weeks starting from Monday 18 June, the Borough of Poole's Consumer Protection Services will be microchipping cats and dogs at a cost of £12.50 instead of the normal £15.50.

The microchip system, adopted in Poole over six years ago, is a quick and painless process and no anaesthetic is needed. Each chip is as small as a grain of rice and has its own unique number which is registered on a central database with the pet's and owner's details.

If a pet goes missing, the International Network of Scanners ensure that any animals found by Council Animal Welfare/Dog Wardens are scanned. The central database, which operates 24 hours a day, will be notified of the pet's unique ID number and confirm the owners details. Since January 1999 a standard Microchip has been introduced to ensure animals chipped in any country can be read worldwide.

Cllr Bob Williams, Executive Spokesperson for Environment and Prosperity, said: "We ran a similar offer last year, which proved so popular that we had to extend it for an extra two weeks. We're hoping even more pet owners will respond this year. Losing a pet is a very stressful experience. The microchipping system helps us reduce that stress by being able to quickly identify a stray pet and reunite it with its owner."

Anyone who would like an appointment or more information on the microchipping service should contact Poole's Consumer Protection Services on Tel: 01202 261700.

Gary Bredda, Senior Animal Health Care Officer