Micro chipping day takes place in March to get dogs up to speed with the new law

A Microchip day is being held to help raise funds for the work of Ravenswood Pet Rescue who take in dogs like Pepper and find them their forever homes. Seen here before his makeover (Image: Archant)

The micro chip day has been organised by Ravenswood Pet Rescue and takes place on Monday 4 at 17 Estover Rd, March PE158SF from 4 to 7pm.

There will be free tea and coffee to everybody attending. No appointment is needed.

Your dog will be chipped and registered for £10 with proceeds going toward the rescue group, which rescues unwanted, abandoned and day eight dogs.

As of Wednesday April 6 all dogs must be chipped from the age of eight weeks.

Pepper in his forever home (Image: Archant)

Anybody found not complying with the law faces a fine of up to £500.

A spokesman for the Pet Owners Association said: “The idea behind this move is to encourage all dog owners to take responsibility for keeping their pet.

“Police and local authority employees will be issued with microchip reader scanners so that instant enforcement of the law can be carried out.

“A time window will be allowed for the owner to get the chipping done, after which a £500 fine for failing to comply will be issued.

New micr chipping law comes into force on Wednesday April 6 (Image: Archant)

“If you sell or pass the dog on, you as the previous keeper are required to register the new keeper. Similarly if our your dog dies, you must inform the database.

“The majority of owners are very caring and responsible about their dog, how they treat it and its behaviour in society.

“Unfortunately some people who keep dogs are not responsible enough to have the care of a living creature in their hands.

“For one reason or another, neglect, abandonment and abuse of animals is common place, as is the casual breeding of dogs as an ‘easy earner’ from breading puppies in unsuitable conditions in order to earn a few pounds selling them down the pub, to full scale puppy farming businesses.

“One of the intentions of the legislation is that dogs coming from puppy farms and other unregulated animal breeding will also be traceable under the law.

“Dogs are stolen quite frequently and it is hoped that microchipping will help in ownership disputes and quicken the process of reuniting those dogs with their real owners.”