Does my dog need to be microchipped?

Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulation 2015

On 6 April 2016 it became law in England and Wales for all dogs aged 8 weeks old or over to be implanted with a microchip and registered with a DEFRA approved microchipping database.

It is the keeper's responsibility to ensure their dog is microchipped and registered on one of the authorised commercial databases. It is also the keeper's responsibility to keep their contact details up-to-date on the databases. If you move house you should ensure the new details are entered onto the database. If you have bought a dog without a microchip you need to ensure that you get it microchipped and registered within 21 days.

Where a dog is transferred to a new keeper, the new keeper must, unless the previous keeper has already done so, record their details and any change in the dog's name with the database on which the dog's details are recorded.

The compulsory microchiping legislation permits veterinary surgeons to exempt dogs from microchipping if in their professional opinion it would adversely affect the dog's health. There are a limited number of situations in which exemption would be necessary. You will need to speak to your vet to discuss these exemptions.

Under the regulations if you do not get your dog microchipped or your details registered on an approved database then it will be considered as not complying with the regulations and a notice may be served. If you as the keeper do not microchip the dog within 21 days of service of the notice then you may be liable to pay a fine of £500.