National Microchipping Month run by us and The Kennel Club takes place every June and aims to raise awareness of the importance of keeping your pet's details up to date so should the worst happen your pet can be reunited with you. It is also there to help show greater awareness of how important microchipping your pet can be.
A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. The procedure to implant a microchip should be carried out by a vet or a trained microchip implanter and is harmless. Microchipping your pet only takes a few minutes, but it lasts a lifetime and is an effective, safe and simple way to make reuniting your pet with you more likely.
Is microchipping your pet a legal requirement?
In April 2016, the law changed to make it compulsory for all dogs to be microchipped and recorded with a government complaint database, such as Petlog. Similarly, in January 2022, the government announced its plans to make microchipping a legal requirement for all cats. Microchipping is also available for other pets, but this isn’t a legal requirement.
What are the benefits of microchipping your pet?
As well as microchips being a legal requirement for both dogs and soon to be cats, they also give you a greater guarantee that your pet will be reunited with you. Although collars and tags have your information on them, they can also go missing or be removed, which is why it is important to have something more permanent in place.
Who can implant a microchip?
Microchips can be implanted from any authorised microchip implanters, such as vets, animal welfare organisations and even some local councils organise microchipping days.
Is microchipping your pet enough?
It is pivotal to consider, as a pet owner or a pet business owner, whether the animals in your care are correctly registered and can be traced via a chip should they go missing. Ensuring your details are always up to date, correct and complete is almost as essential as getting a microchip in the first place. Should your details change for any reason it is your responsibility to contact the database and advise them of any changes. Making sure your details are current ensures that you are still contactable in the event of your pet becoming lost.
Keep your details up to date
Make sure your details are up to date to have the best chance of reuniting your pet with you should the worst happen. We offer a Petlog Premium package for a one-off fee of £19.95. This allows pet keepers to update their records as many times as is needed throughout the lifetime of your pet – that would be less than £2 per year and gives you the peace of mind of knowing your pet is far more likely to be returned home if it went missing.
Real life stories
Read some of our stories on how having a microchip and keeping them up to date has reunited lost pets:
Microchipping will be a legal requirement for cats in England from 10 June 2024 and owners must register and keep contact details up to date on a microchipping database. If your cat is registered with Petlog, please check your details are up to date now.
If you haven’t created an online account with us since our March 2021 website upgrade, please do this before 10 June 2024.
