Dog wardens offering free microchipping checks at Wiltshire Game and County Fayre

Wiltshire Council Dog Warden team will be attending the Wiltshire Game and Country Fayre at Bowood House to carry out free dog microchip checks.

Since April 2016 it has been a legal requirement for all dogs over eight weeks old to be microchipped and registered on a national database. In addition, dogs must wear a collar with an identity tag, displaying their owners' name and address, when they are out in a public place. Failure to have a dog microchipped and registered with up-to-date details can result in a fine of up to £500.

Dog warden teams currently receive over 600 calls per year to deal with stray dogs and take approximately 200 dogs to kennels as they are not wearing collars with tags or registered with up-to-date microchip details.

Teams will be working alongside Wiltshire Police promoting responsible dog ownership and offering free microchip checks at the Wiltshire Game and Country Fayre at Bowood House, between 10am to 6pm on 12 and 13 August. The check will both ensure that the dog is microchipped and that the correct details held on the database.

Cllr Nick Holder, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Protection, said: Our Dog Warden team deal with a large number of stray dogs, promoting responsible dog ownership and the importance of dogs being microchipping will hopefully lead to fewer stray dogs being taken to the kennels.

Having up-to-date microchip details registered to a government approved provider ensures your dogs can be returned to you as quickly as possible should you lose them. The time and money saved by us as a council can go towards the delivery of frontline services.

We want to encourage anyone visiting the Wiltshire Game and Country Fayre this August to visit the dog warden stall and get the free check of the details registered for their pets - you never know it might help us reunite you with a lost dog in the future or prevent a £500 fine.

A microchip must be fitted by a trained professional, such as a vet, who may charge a fee. Owners are responsible for keeping the microchip information up to date once they are fitted. For more information on getting your dog microchipped people can visit www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-microchipped (opens new window).

To report a stray dog people should call Wiltshire Council, 24 hrs a day, 0300 4560107.