written by Hamish Lazari, all rights reserved.

The current cost to amend the details recorded on a microchip with Petlog the Kennel Clubs pet identification service is £7.50 for owners who need to change information. Perhaps this price explains why a lot of microchips are not kept up to date?  A recent example from one local authority being out of 81 dogs seized that were found to have a microchip, 34 had incorrect details and were therefore of no use in reuniting dogs with owners and those dogs claimed had to wait until the owners made contact with the council.  Others who were contacted had moved away or claimed that the dog had been sold on.

When a number of owners were advised to amend their details, the stock reply was usually, ‘I am not paying to change the details’ or another answer is ‘I have already paid for the microchip, why do I have to pay again?’

There are obviously running costs associated with any data-base, but why cannot the main data-base providers have one standard charge for amending microchip details, thus making the system equal across the whole of the country?

Another area where the promotion of responsible dog ownership could possibly be hindered is through the charge to Rescue Centres and Local Authorities (if they rehome their own unclaimed strays) of £15 for a change of ownership when an unclaimed dog that has a microchip is rehomed. There is a discounted rate for those Rescue Centres who try to raise awareness of the Petlog service of £10.

If the Rescue Centre or the new owner do not get the details amended and the dog subsequently strays and it has no collar and tag on, the microchip details will show the old owner.

The AVID Pettrac data-base currently charges £5 to amend its microchips and there is no charge for Rescue Centres to amend AVID microchips found in unclaimed dogs and other animals.

If those individuals and organisations who push for the use of microchips as a compulsory form of registration have their way, dog owners will become a cash cow for commercial organisations who have the monopoly on the amending of details.  If it becomes an offence to not have your dog microchipped and the details kept up to date will this result in more unclaimed dogs or just dogs with incorrect microchip details? 

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