Companion Animal Microchipping Welfare

Microchipping is now mandatory for dogs in the UK and has significant welfare benefits for lost and stray animals.

Key Facts

Microchipping of dogs has been mandatory in England, Scotland and Wales since 2016
Cat microchipping became mandatory in England from 10 June 2024
Microchipping involves a brief injection under the skin at the back of the neck
The chip is read by a scanner available at veterinary practices and rescue centres
Chipped animals are significantly more likely to be reunited with owners than unchipped animals
Keeping chip registration details updated is essential for the system to work
Microchipping does not replace a collar and tag which remains the legal requirement for dogs in public

Welfare Considerations

Microchipping delivers significant welfare benefit by enabling reunion of lost animals with their owners, reducing time spent in rescue centres and preventing euthanasia of unclaimed animals. The welfare cost of the procedure is minimal - a brief moment of discomfort during injection. The benefit in terms of welfare for lost animals who would otherwise spend weeks in rescue or be euthanised is substantial. Keeping registration details updated is the key maintenance requirement.

What You Can Do

Ensure all your companion animals are microchipped and registered with accurate contact details
Update your microchip registration immediately if you move home or change phone number
Register any newly adopted animal with your own contact details if previously chipped by the rescue
Advocate for microchip database harmonisation to enable cross-database searching for lost animals