Date: 04/12/2007
A low cost dog micro-chipping service is being offered to dog owners this Saturday at an event taking place at Glossop Market.
High Peak Borough Council and the RSPCA will be teaming up to provide the service which makes it easier for lost dogs to be returned to their homes.
It involves a small chip being implanted under the dog's skin, which has a unique identification number, linked to a secure national database.
A record is kept of the owner's name and address so that if the dog is lost the chip can be read and the details will be available.
Councillor John Haken, Executive Member for the Environment said: "Last year the Council's dog wardens responded to nearly 300 complaints about stray dogs, and of the 85 dogs which had to be taken to Manchester Dogs Home, only 21 were successfully returned to their owners.
"Having your dog micro chipped promotes responsible dog ownership and if someone loses a dog they can be scanned and returned without impounding them if the owners live locally. This is where the micro chip proves more useful than a simple tag, as the owner's contact details are stored on the database.
"Normally before we can return a stray dog, the owner will have to pay a fee. However if the dog is chipped and is a first time stray we will waive that fee, as long as we can contact the owner immediately."
The cost of the micro chipping service is £10. This covers the cost of the chip, implanting the chip, and processing time.
The RSPCA micro chipping trailer will be on Glossop Market from 9am until 4pm on Saturday 8th December. Council and RSPCA staff will be on hand for any other dog or animal related advice.