Fareham Borough Council Microchip Campaign

Permanently identify your pet

Think of the distress when your pet goes missing - this can happen to the most careful and responsible of owners. Unfortunately many of these animals are never re-united with their owners. On occasions dogs escape from their property or run off on their walk, and the majority of cats wander unsupervised. Sadly it is not uncommon for a cat to be picked up by a local authority or taken into a vet after a road traffic accident. All are scanned for microchips or other forms of identification. These animals may never be identified. There are many ways to identify your pet - name tag, tattoo and micro-chipping are the most common examples. Many people believe that micro-chipping is one of the safest, surest and quickest way of getting any lost animal back home. The process is simple - a small microchip, the size of a grain of rice - is inserted between the animals shoulder blades. It is no more complicated than an injection. Once chipped the animal has its own unique number. This number along with the owners details are logged on a national database. Details must be updated if you move address, change telephone number etc, otherwise you need take no other action. When a stray animal is picked up it is scanned by the local authority, the RSPCA, vets, animal welfare organisations etc. If a micro-chip is found and the details are correct then the owners can be contacted immediately.

Micro-chipping is permanent - even if a collar comes off ownership can be verified.

Home appointments cost £10 and take about 30 minutes.  Name tags can be supplied for 30p extra.

• The microchip is inserted with a simple injection, just under the skin between the shoulder blades.
• The chip is checked with a hand held microchip reader.

Picture of microchip to give you an idea of the size.

For further information on the above please contact the Dog Control Officer on Tel : 01329 236100 or e-mail regulatory@fareham.gov.uk