Dog Chipping

DOG owners in Carmarthenshire are being offered the chance to have their pets micro-chipped.

The latest opportunities are at Carmarthen Farmers, Myrtle Hill, Pensarn, Carmarthen, next Monday and Tuesday (November 12 and 13) from 10am until 3pm. This service is currently free.

The county council deals with more than 700 stray dog-related calls every year. Many of the dogs end up being impounded and re-homed. If owners are contactable when a dog is found, the warden will try and re-unite the dog with its owner before taking it to the kennel.

If a dog has a tag or is micro-chipped, it is easier for the dog warden to find out the owner’s details, which will assist in either returning the dog, or in advising the owner that their dog has been picked up by the local authority.

If the dog has a micro-chip, the warden can read the information stored on the chip by using a scanner and the owner of the dog can then be contacted to advise that their dog has been picked up. This should reduce any delays in the dog being returned, and reduce any unnecessary trauma to the dog.

To try and encourage responsible dog ownership, the local authority is offering a free dog micro-chipping service to residents of Carmarthenshire. As part of this service, Public Health Services hold chipping events at various locations across the county of Carmarthenshire.

Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for public protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “I would urge dog owners to take advantage of this excellent scheme and have their dog micro-chipped.”

If you are unable to attend an event, but would like your dog/s chipped, please use the request form on the website to provide your details, or contact the Public Protection Department on 01267 234567.