Dogs in England must be microchipped from 2016

[Muggle]

Every dog owner in England will have to microchip their animal from 2016 under plans intended to cut a rise in strays.

The microchips will be coded with owners' details, and owners who do not comply could face fines of up to £500.

A legal loophole may also be closed, meaning owners could be prosecuted over an attack by their dog on private land.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21345730

I think it's good in theory but from working with stray dogs and there are a lot of strays that come in who are microchipped but the details are incorrect so it would take quite a bit of policing to ensure that all the details are kept up to date. So it's basically going to be giving the RSPCA more power (as it will fall to them to police it) and they've got far too much anyway.

 

[Lord Snot]

I don't see the RSPCA taking any role in this, it isn't a welfare issue. In principle I think every dog should be microchipped to increase the chances of being re-united with their keeper if they get separated somehow, though as you point out the details on the chip are often out of date. But I can see where this is headed and I don't like it - this will make it much easier to ban 'dangerous dog' breeds. If all dogs have to be chipped then their breeds will all be on record, and it'll be much easier to say, for example, vets can no longer microchop pit bulls. Meaning nobody can legally keep a pitbull.

 

[Moll Flanders]

^ I agree with both of you.

I did sign petitions and write letters to try and get microchips compulsory but I know it won't work on the dickheads who act irresponsibly with dogs. I don't know if there is anything that can be done for people who mistreat or neglect animals apart from banning animal breeding one day in the future. I think this law may even lead to some dogs being abandoned as the owners won't bother to go to a vet for care as they know they will be checked for a microchip and may be fined.

In a positive note hopefully it will be a way of targeting well-meaning dog owners who will now microchip to avoid a fine.

I agree with the idea to prosecute dog owners who have dogs that carry out attacks on their property, there has been an increase in dog bites in my local area and a couple of postmen were attacked.

 

[Wolfie]

I don't see the RSPCA taking any role in this, it isn't a welfare issue. In principle I think every dog should be microchipped to increase the chances of being re-united with their keeper if they get separated somehow, though as you point out the details on the chip are often out of date. But I can see where this is headed and I don't like it - this will make it much easier to ban 'dangerous dog' breeds. If all dogs have to be chipped then their breeds will all be on record, and it'll be much easier to say, for example, vets can no longer microchop pit bulls. Meaning nobody can legally keep a pitbull.

I thought you couldn't legally keep a pit bull in England anyway.

Postmen have a right to go onto someone's property and not be attacked. But what about an intruder?

 

[Moll Flanders]

Postmen have a right to go onto someone's property and not be attacked. But what about an intruder?

It said in the article that householders will be protected from prosecution if their dog attacks a burglar or trespasser on their land.

 

[Wolfie]

Ok didn't see that part. That's what I get for skimming and replying.