microchip

It was an emotional reunion at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home as the clouds cleared from Glastonbury and a microchip proved to be the ray of hope one Staffie owner needed after her dog went missing whilst she was working at the famous festival.

Across the week in which the new compulsory microchipping law came into force – stating all dogs in England, Scotland and Wales must be chipped with up to date details by 6 April – Battersea Dogs & Cats Home chipped 343 dogs in local communities across London. The charity’s Community Engagement volunteers worked alongside staff to carry out this vital work, as part of the Home’s volunteering and fostering programme supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Fifteen-year-old Maggie went on a little adventure before the RSPCA returned her home.

The owner of a collie-cross who wandered off during a walk has urged all pet owners to get their beloved animals microchipped.

Amanda Devlin’s mother was walking 15-year-old Maggie (pictured left) in Barnet, where she lives, when the crossbreed disappeared on 24 March, prompting 48 hours of frantic searching and worrying.

On the day the new microchipping law comes into force, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Ambassador Paul O’Grady is urging pet owners to microchip their dogs, after new Battersea research reveals only one in five lost dogs have an up to date chip, making many stray dogs’ chances of being reunited with their owners less likely.

Worrying figures from Local Authorities showed in Battersea’s new report Microchipping Where it Matters Most, the vast majority of stray dogs (80%) either don’t have microchips, or the chips are rendered useless because of out of date contact details.

The spaniel was reunited with her ecstatic family after she was stolen exactly four months earlier

A beloved pet dog who was stolen from outside a supermarket has finally been reunited with her family four months after disappearing.

Four-year-old springer spaniel Bella went missing from Northampton on 20 October and was found more than 110 miles away - in Bristol.

The black and white dog wandered into a shop in Bristol on 10 February - four months after disappearing from outside a shop.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Lily, made a dash for the outdoors, only to leave her owners frantically worried as to her whereabouts. Luckily she was reunited with her owner from Pimlico at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home because she was microchipped.

The six year old Staffie was found at Pimlico Station and brought into Battersea where staff carried out a routine microchip scan that showed up her owner’s details.

Lily’s owner Karen Viera said: “Because the weather was so hot we had the door open with the baby gate closed, but we just didn’t realise how easy it would be for her to escape. Our other dog accompanied us as we searched the area and I put out updates on my Facebook and Twitter so people could help me search for her. We are so grateful to Battersea for looking after her and contacting us. I’m so glad we had her microchipped, we might never have seen her again if we hadn’t.”

Karen and her mum noticed Lily wasn’t in the dog bed where she was last seen and began searching in and around their home. It soon became clear that Lily had jumped over the baby gate that was locked by the open door and made a leap for outside.

As the warm weather continues across the UK, Battersea urges pet owners to be extra vigilant when doors and windows are left open in case their pets go missing. More than 65 per cent of all dogs arriving at Battersea are not microchipped with their owner’s details, making it difficult and sometimes impossible to successfully reunite lost pets with their worried owners.

Liz McWalter, Head of Intake at Battersea said: “It was fantastic to be able to reunite Lily and Karen so soon after she went missing and really highlights the importance of microchipping. Battersea offers free microchipping for dog owners at our three centres in London, Kent, and Windsor, and if you haven’t already got your dog chipped we’d urge you to take this simple step to ensure you can be reunited with your pet should you get parted.”

Earlier this year, the Government announced that all dogs in England must be microchipped by April 2016. To support and promote this vital initiative, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is working with Lambeth Council to offer free microchipping, name tag engraving and advice about responsible dog ownership on Tuesday 6 August at Stockwell Gardens Estate.

Earlier this month, the Government announced that all dogs in England must be microchipped by April 2016. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is offering a free microchipping and name tag engraving service at Windrush Square, Brixton on Monday 4 March, and Ruskin Park, Denmark Hill on Wednesday 13 March from 11am – 4pm.

Less than one third of all dogs arriving at Battersea are microchipped and the charity believes permanent identification of dogs will help to reduce the problem of stray dogs and help reunite more pets with their owners.