Friday February 5th 2016
As many dog owners know, the microchipping of their beloved best friend will be a legal requirement from 6th April.
To help with this task, Midlothian Council has teamed up with the Dogs Trust to provide free microchipping of dogs. The events are being held at four separate venues across Midlothian, ahead of the compulsory microchipping. These are:
Wednesday, 10 February, from 10am-2pm, at Mayfield Bowling Pavilion (next to Mayfield Leisure Centre, 10 Mayfield Place, EH22 5JG).
Thursday, 11 February, from 10am-2pm, at Ladywood Leisure Centre, 14A Yarrow Court, Penicuik, EH26 8HD. (This event has been organised by Ladywood Leisure.)
Tuesday, 29 March, from 10am-2pm, at Kings Park (next to the Pavilion), Eskbank Road, Dalkeith, EH22 3BU.
Thursday, 31 March, from 9am-1pm, at Vogrie Country Park (car park area), Gorebridge, EH23 4NU.
Having your dog microchipped is one of the best ways to increase your pet’s chance of being reunited with you. Unlike dog tags and collars, which can fall off or be removed, microchipping is a more permanent form of identifying your dog. But, don’t forget, the law says that all dogs must wear a collar and tag, with their owner’s name, address and telephone number on it.
A spokesperson for Midlothian Council said: “We want to ensure that all dog owners in Midlothian have the opportunity to have their pets microchipped free of charge ahead of the introduction of compulsory microchipping and are delighted to be working alongside the Dogs Trust to offer these free events.”
To explain how the process works, a “chip” – about the size of a long grain of rice – is injected under the skin of the dog, between the shoulder blades. This chip carries a unique number that allows the dog to be traced to its owner when scanned. The owner’s contact details are stored on a national database.
Once your dog has been microchipped, it is important that you update the microchip details if you move house, change your phone number or e-mail address. For further formation, please contact Environmental Health on 0131 271 3345 or at environmentalhealth@midlothian.gov.uk.
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