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Government issues New Year call to microchip pets
Animal welfare minister Zac Goldsmith has highlighted the importance of microchipping to help quickly reunite lost or stolen pets with their owners.
Ministers consider compulsory microchipping for cats

Animal welfare charities and government ministers have issued a New Year call to pet owners to ensure their cats and dogs are microchipped.

In a press release, animal welfare minister Zac Goldsmith highlighted the importance of microchipping to help quickly reunite lost or stolen pets with their owners and to relieve the burden on rehoming centres.

“Microchips are often the only hope of reuniting lost pets with their owners so it truly is the best New Year’s resolution you could make to protect your furry friend in 2020,” he said. “I urge cat owners to microchip their cat and for dog-owners to make sure the details on the chip are up to date.”

His call has been echoed by Dogs Trust veterinary director Paula Boyden, who added: “We see first-hand both the heartbreak that dog owners suffer when they are separated from their pets, as well as the joy of being reunited.

“This is why it is so important that owners keep their details on the microchip database up to date, as required by law. Doing so significantly increases the chances of a lost or stolen dog being reunited with their owner.”

Figures from veterinary charity PDSA show that, since the introduction of compulsory dog microchipping in 2016, 92 per cent of dogs have been microchipped - an increase from 93 per cent in 2015. Furthermore, data published by Dogs Trust reveals there has been a 15 per cent decrease in dogs handled by Local Authorities since microchipping became mandatory.

Currently, Microchipping is not compulsory for cats unless they are travelling under the Pet Travel Scheme. But according to leading feline welfare charity Cats Protection, eight out of 10 strays handed in for adoption in England in 2018 did not have a microchip.

To help tackle cat theft and identify felines injured or killed on the roads, the government is considering the introduction of compulsory cat microchipping. In October 2019, the government launched a call for evidence to understand the consequences of making microchipping of cats compulsory in England.

Ministers are seeking to find out what the effect of mandatory microchipping would be on owners, rescue and rehoming centres and cats. The call for evidence closes at 5pm on 4 January 2020.

Jacqui Cuff, Cats Protection’s head of advocacy and government relations said: “Cats Protection is delighted that the Government has shown its commitment to cat welfare and issued a call for evidence on cat microchipping including the benefits of making microchipping compulsory for cats, as it is for dogs.”

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.