Battersea Dogs & Cats Home offers view on compulsory microchipping

Thursday, 28th April 2011

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has offered its view on the government's recent proposal to make microchipping compulsory for all dogs.

The government made this proposal in a bid to deal with dog control problems, however critics have said that the idea will mean responsible owners will be penalised.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home said that compulsory microchipping would go a long way in improving traceability of lost dogs to their owners.

However, it also believes that it will be important to make sure there are enough resources available to enforce this law.

The charity said: "Compulsory microchipping is only part of the answer to dealing with dog control problems.

"As a leading voice on animal welfare issues, the charity is lobbying the government to focus efforts on tackling the back street breeding of dogs which is fuelling irresponsible ownership and resulting in large numbers of unwanted dogs sold via the internet."

In 2010, just 32 per cent of the 4,040 stray pups that Battersea Dogs & Cats Home took in were microchipped.