Countryside Alliance welcomes microchipping regulations for dogs in Wales

The National Assembly for Wales has voted in favour of the new Microchipping of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2015 which will come into force on 6 April 2016. All dogs over the age of eight weeks will require a microchip and the details of the keeper will be registered on an approved database.

Rachel Evans, Countryside Alliance director for Wales said: "This has taken some time to come to fruition and the Alliance has been active in the consultation process since March 2010. We have encouraged our members to proceed with microchipping and I am pleased to say that the majority are well ahead of the 2016 deadline, particularly hunt kennels and gundog owners.

"This legislation brings Wales into line with England and Scotland, which is vital for cross border management and will ensure breeders in Wales are not left at a disadvantage. It will increase responsible breeding and dog ownership, give owners a far better chance of being reunited with their dog if it should become lost and should deter dog theft which has been a great concern amongst owners in recent years."

The Welsh Government's National Household Survey in July 2015 suggested that there are 534,000 dogs in Wales of which 78% of dogs living in households are microchipped.

Those wishing to microchip their pet can do so via their veterinary practice or Countryside Alliance members can access a suitably trained working dog specialist by e-mailing [email protected]