AHEAD of Check the Chip Day on 15th August 2023, new data from the Dogs Trust Stray Dog Surveyhas revealed that approximately 28,015 stray dogs were handled by local authority dog wardens last year.
Thankfully, after spending some time in local authority pounds, around half of these dogs were reunited with their owners.
However, despite being microchipped, an estimated 4,352 dogs were unable to be reunited with their owners, simply because the owner’s contact details held on the microchip database were incorrect.
Dogs Trust Basildon is now calling on all owners to ensure that their dog’s microchip details are updated to ensure they can be quickly reunited with their owners if they do go missing.
Since 2016, it has been a legal requirement that all dogs are microchipped, and the chip must be linked to the owner’s current contact information. In addition, all dogs need to wear a collar and tag that states the name and address of the owner when in a public place, even if microchipped.
For more information about microchipping, visit https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/health-wellbeing/essentials/microchipping
Around a fifth of all stray dogs handled by dog wardens last year were passed on to welfare organisations such as Dogs Trust to be rehomed. This includes Dotty, a beautiful 10-year-old lurcher seeking a sofa to call her own after being found as a stray. After being transferred to Dogs Trust Basildon, Dotty has proved to be a sweet natured lady, and is now seeking a retirement home.
Dotty enjoys a gentle stroll, but she doesn’t need hours of exercise. Being a lurcher, she loves fluffy toys and likes to chase them and carry them around. She can be a bit shy on first meeting new people but soon gains confidence and loves a cuddle. She loves her food and treats this will be a good tool to build a bond with her.
She can live with dog savvy children over the age of 11 years old who can give her space when she wants time alone. However, she must be the only dog in the home and can’t live with cats or small furries.
For more information on Dotty or to apply to rehome her, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk
Kelly McMaster, Rehoming Centre Manager at Dogs Trust Basildon says:
“When a dog goes missing it is incredibly stressful for their owners and families. However, ensuring their microchip details are kept up to date gives owners the best opportunity of being reunited with their canine friend should the worst happen, and they go missing.
“Our Stray Dogs Survey found that thousands of dogs are handled by local authority dog wardens every year. While many are microchipped, a large number sadly couldn’t be reunited with their owners simply because their microchip details were not up to date.
“It’s simple to update the details for your dog’s microchip; you can do it online, by telephone or by post, depending on which database your chip is registered to. This quick step will give you the best possible chance of being reunited with your dog if the worst does happen.”
