Dog Owners Urged to Microchip and Update Registration Details
Dog owners have been reminded of the importance of microchipping their pets after a woman received a fine exceeding £500. Wiltshire Council dog warden, Seb Williams, emphasized that all dogs must be microchipped by eight weeks of age, and that owners need to keep their contact information updated.
In the 2025/26 period, the council reported receiving 659 calls regarding lost or found dogs, with 190 needing to be placed in kennels because their owners could not be immediately located. Alarmingly, only 17 of these pets had updated microchip information.
Williams stated, “It’s one of the quickest, most effective ways of getting a dog back to their owner if it does go missing.”
Case of Non-compliance
The warning follows the prosecution of Victoria Hill, a 35-year-old from Royal Wootton Bassett. She faced court on September 11 for failing to register her dog’s microchip details despite repeated requests. When her dog was found, its microchip was not registered with an approved database. Although given 21 days to resolve the issue, Hill did not comply and was ultimately fined £220, along with £300 in legal costs and an £88 victim surcharge.
Legal Responsibilities
According to Williams, the initial responsibility of microchipping typically falls on the breeder, ensuring the dog is chipped by eight weeks. However, it is the new owner’s duty to update the chip with their details.
This not only reduces stress for the dogs picked up as strays but also facilitates their return to families. Additionally, dogs must wear a collar and tag in public areas.
Updating Microchip Information
To update information, dog owners should contact an approved microchip database. A comprehensive list of these databases is available on the government’s website. Microchips should be implanted by trained professionals such as vets or local councils.
Jason Cortis, an education officer at the animal welfare charity Blue Cross, highlighted the significance of microchips in reuniting pets with their owners. He noted numerous success stories, some involving reunions after more than ten years.
Consequences of Non-compliance
Williams mentioned that the council prosecutes four to five owners annually but first offers education and opportunities to comply before resorting to legal action. The maximum fine for unchipped dogs or outdated microchip details is £500. He cautioned that what could cost around £20-30 in microchipping ends up being much more expensive in court.
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