Joyce Watson AM has called on all owners to ensure that their pet is microchipped as part of National Microchipping Month 2009, run by Petlog.National Microchipping Month runs throughout June and aims to encourage and promote responsible pet ownership through microchipping as the preferred method of permanent pet identification. The scheme is run by Petlog, which is owned and managed by the Kennel Club, and has over 3.7m pets registered, with 40,000 new pets added to the database each month.
Last year Petlog handled nearly 100,000 calls relating to lost and found pets and reunited many animals with their owners. Petlog runs the only 24/7 pet reunification service in the UK from its dedicated call centre in Aylesbury, and is also a member of Europetnet, which ensures your pet can be identified if lost in over 20 European countries.
Caroline Kisko, Communications Director at the Kennel Club, said: "Throughout June, we aim to show more people than ever just how quick and easy the process of having your animal microchipped is. Deciding to have a pet is an important decision and one that results in a commitment to that pet for its entire life. An essential part of being a responsible pet owner is identifying them permanently."
Joyce Watson, who is the Labour Party's Assembly spokesperson for Rural Affairs, said: "All pet owners should ensure their animals are microchipped as National Microchipping Month so rightly stresses. Petlog helps reunite a large number of missing pets with their owners, and I urge vets as well as pet owners to spread the word of just how vital microchipping is.
"It’s very distressing for any owner to lose their beloved pet, but through microchipping it gives peace of mind that should they become separated, they can generally be easily reunited—as, happily, was the case for Charlie the terrier.”
Last week The Western Telegraph reported the story of Charlie, the terrier who went missing from his home in Penally and turned up three days later 70 miles away in Bridgend.
It was only after a vet in Bridgend traced the owners after scanning the dog's microchip that Charlie was reunited with his owners.
The little dog's owner, Anne, said "if Charlie hadn't been chipped, there is no way we would ever have seen him again."
"If anyone is thinking twice about whether or not to have a chip for their dog, then Charlie is the best reason ever."
Petlog will be running further events throughout June to promote National Microchipping Month – to find out more information, or to get involved, visit www.nationalmicrochippingmonth.org.uk
Caption: Assembly Member Joyce Watson talks with Senior Public Affairs Officer Laura Vallance on the importance of Microchipping
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