17/05/2012Posted : May 17, 2012
Welsh to consult on compulsory dog microchipping

The Welsh government has launched a three-month public consultation on compulsory dog microchipping, which outlines numerous ways in which legislation could be implemented and asks stakeholders for their opinions.

The consultation follows two years of surveys and meetings with vets, welfare groups and database providers to explore the appetite for compulsory microchipping and how it could be implemented.

Speaking after the document launched on May 16, Welsh environment minister John Griffiths said: "We believe the majority of dog owners in Wales are responsible and take good care of their animals. As a Government we are committed to building on this to ensure high welfare standards for all dogs."

He added: "Microchipping ensures a permanent identification for animals and only needs to be done once in a dog's life. It makes it easier to reunite lost dogs with their owners, acts as a deterrent against dog theft, and helps to prove dog ownership if there are ever any problems with the animal."

The consultation document outlines five options on microchipping and asks stakeholders for their opinions. Possible ways forward include:

1. continuing to push voluntary microchipping;
2. microchipping new puppies only;
3. microchipping puppies and older dogs on transfer of ownership;
4. microchipping all puppies born after legislation is introduced, chipping older dogs on transfer of ownership and introducing mandatory microchipping of all dogs within a year of legislation coming into effect; or
5. microchipping all puppies, chipping older dogs on transfer of ownership and introducing mandatory microchipping "at a future date".

The Welsh Government estimates there are nearly 500,000 dogs in Wales and that a third of households in Wales own at least one dog.

The consultation has been welcomed by UK veterinary associations.

In a joint statement by, BSAVA president Mark Johnston said: "As part of the consultation BVA and BSAVA will be making the case for all dogs to be microchipped from a certain date, rather than a phased-in approach that would be difficult to enforce."

• Consultation on the Compulsory Microchipping of Dogs runs until August 8, 2012.