June is National Microchipping Month, and Slough Borough Council is working with the RSPCA to promote pet safety by offering residents discount price microchips for their dogs.
The Hillingdon, Slough, Windsor and Kingston District RSPCA branch normally sell microchips for £18 each, but during National Microchipping Month, the council and the RSPCA are offering residents the chance to get their dogs microchipped for a special price of just £10.
Microchipping is a permanent form of identification for pets, where the dog’s individual microchip number and the owner’s detail is stored on a national database, held by companies like PetLog.
Following recent legislation that came into force on April 6, responsibility for stray dogs has changed from the police to local authorities. For more information on this legislation, please call Slough Borough Council’s Animal Warden on 01753 875255.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it’s an offence for dogs to stray onto public or private land. Slough Borough Council wants to reduce the problem of stray dogs by encouraging responsible pet ownership through the use of microchips.
During the microchip process, an electronic device the size of a grain of rice is inserted under the dog’s skin between the shoulder blades. There is no need for general or local anaesthetic. The procedure is carried out by a trained person, and once implanted, the chip cannot be removed or destroyed.
Local authority dog wardens, animal rescue charities and vets can then scan the animal to read the information on the microchip and retrieve owner details.
Jackie Singer, animal warden for Slough Borough Council, said: “As a local authority, we are able to issue fines to owners of stray dogs, starting at £95.
“The only time this fine may be alleviated is if the owner has put up to date identification on their dog. Therefore, it’s essential owners update the chip.
“The cost of a microchip is a small price to pay for a lifetime of permanent identification and safety for your pet.”
Cllr James Swindlehurst, commissioner for neighbourhoods and renewal, said: “The discounted price microchipping deal from the RSPCA is a great offer for Slough residents.
“We hope it will encourage sensible pet ownerships and prevent stray dogs on our streets.”
Throughout June, Slough’s animal warden will be promoting the offer and giving out pet ownership advice on the following dates:
* Saturday June 7, at Norway Drive playing fields, from 12pm to 4pm.
* Thursday June 12, at Crown Meadow in Colnbrook from 5pm to 7pm.
* Monday June 16, Upton Lea Recreation Ground from 4pm to 6pm.
* Thursday June 26, at Spackmans Way, Chalvey from 4pm to 6pm.
* Friday June 27, Upton Court Park from 5pm to 7pm.
* Monday June 30, Cippenham Village Green from 5pm to 7pm.
Other pets can also benefit from microchipping. If you would like more information, please call the RSPCA Hillingdon Clinic on 01895 231435 or 01895 270926.
To contact Slough Borough Council’s Animal Warden Service, please call 01753 875255 (open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Fridays.) For an out of hours service, please call 07500 703610.
Slough Borough Council
