Pet owners across England will soon find solace in faster reunions with their lost or stolen companions, thanks to announced reforms to pet microchipping system.
With approximately nine million pet dogs and nine million pet cats in England, the ordeal of losing a beloved pet is heart-wrenching for owners. Microchipping stands as the most efficient method for pet identification, with microchipped dogs being more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owners. The announced reforms aim to streamline the microchip records, making them more accessible and accurate, thus expediting the process of reuniting lost pets with their families.
The reforms outlined today are poised to bolster efforts to reunite stray pets by simplifying microchip records access, enhancing data accuracy, and standardising database operator procedures. Notable changes include the creation of a centralised portal for accessing microchip records, enabling approved users such as vets, local authorities, and police to search records swiftly, thereby reducing delays in reuniting pets with their owners.
Lord Douglas Miller, the Animal Welfare Minister, emphasised the significance of these reforms in safeguarding pets from theft and bolstering the chances of lost pets finding their way back home. By streamlining the microchipping system, these reforms aim to provide a vital lifeline for distraught pet owners while deterring pet theft through improved monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
Veterinary Approval
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed the government’s initiative to reform the pet microchipping database system. BVA President Anna Judson lauded the measures, highlighting the long-standing advocacy for a centralised portal to streamline microchip record access. These reforms are poised to empower veterinary teams in swiftly identifying and reuniting lost pets with their owners, ensuring prompt treatment and care where necessary.
The forthcoming changes signal a significant stride towards enhancing pet welfare and strengthening the bond between pets and their owners, reinforcing the importance of microchipping in safeguarding cherished companions.
