The Government has announced that all dog owners in England will have to have their canine friends fitted with a microchip by 6 April 2013 in a bid to cut down on the number of strays and attacks by dangerous animals.
MPs believe that compulsory microchipping, which is already the law in Northern Ireland, will ensure that all dogs can in future be traced back to their owners, who will then be held accountable for the animal’s behaviour.
There have been growing calls for the Government to take action amid concern from animal charities about dangerous dogs being used as weapons and status symbols.
The latest figures from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs show that eight adults and six children have been killed by dogs since 2005, with most attacks occurring in the home.
In addition, the cost to the taxpayer and canine welfare charities is huge, with more than 100,000 dogs being dumped or lost each year to the tune of £57m annually.
Also in the past 12 months, more than 3,000 postal workers have been attacked by out-of-control dogs, with 70 per cent of these attacks happening on private property. However, householders will be protected from prosecution if their dog attacks a burglar or trespasser on their land.
Owners who refuse to comply with changes to the Animal Welfare Act face fines of up to £500 and a legal loophole could also be closed, meaning owners could face prosecution even if their dog attacks anyone on private land.
The electronic chips will hold an electronic record of their owner’s name and addresses, as well as a unique identity number, and implantation can cost as little as £5, however it is possible that the scheme could be subsidised to avoid pet owners being forced to pay for them.