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PDSA reminds cat owners of microchip deadline
Dragon's microchip meant that PDSA could contact his owner immediately.
A microchip helped reunite a cat with its owner after three months.

PDSA has issued a reminder for cat owners to get their cat microchipped, ahead of the 10 June 2024 deadline.

From 10 June, all pet cats which are over the age of 20 weeks must be microchipped. Owners who fail to microchip their cat will have 21 days to get one implanted, or they risk a £500 fine.

PDSA says that, as well as soon becoming a legal requirement, microchipping cats can also be important if the cat becomes lost.

In one case, a microchip proved vital to reuniting a one-year-old cat with his owner, after three months away.

Dragon first went missing in March 2022. His owner, Elizabeth Vasilopoulou, tried many techniques to guide him home, including calling for him, shaking his treats, and leaving his carrier out for him.

Three months later Ms Vasilopoulou received a phone call from New Cross PDSA Pet Hospital, who said they had Dragon.

The pet hospital said that Dragon was found by a group of girls, who had been feeding him in their garden for a month. Unsure if he was local or not, they took him to the PDSA pet hospital.

As Dragon had an up-to-date microchip, PDSA were able to contact her immediately to reunite her with her cat.

When he returned home Dragon slept for three days, only waking up for food. He was soon back to his original self, and has recently celebrated his third birthday.

Lynne James, a veterinary surgeon with PDSA, said: “Just as much as we don’t want to end up with a lost or stray cat, our much-loved pets definitely won’t want to lose us either! Having a microchip, that’s kept up to date and registered on a compliant database, is the best precautionary method all cat owners should take.”

She added: “This is also a good time for owners to check their chips, for all cats already with a microchip, make sure you’ve checked your details are all correct, and check the chip is successfully registered, as an unregistered chip is no use to a lost cat.”  

Image © PDSA

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.