Not to microchip my dog?

[Littlefluffyclouds81]

So the new law starts this month saying all dogs must be microchipped. I have a dog who is not microchipped and I am hesitant to do so because:

1. he is 12 years old and not the 'buggering off' sort. In fact, in 12 years I have never lost him (he is a complete mummy's boy and just wants to be wherever I am).

2. the microchipping needle is large and likely to be quite an unpleasant experience for him.

3. an article in the independent says that a senior vet advises people with puppies or small dogs (mine is small) to ignore the law as microchipping can cause problems. Not exactly sure what these problems are though. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ten-new-laws-that-come-into-force-in-april-2016-and-how-they-affect-you-a6964881.html

It seems a bit daft to put my dog through it at his age when I can pretty much guarantee I'm not going to lose him. AIBU?

yabu
if you don't like the laws around your pet you shouldn't keep it.

The vet probably suggested that the cats were done under anaesthetic as they were already under, so made life easier. It's the law to get your dog microchipped by the 6th. Unless the vet is willing to issue an exemption certificate, just get it done. It's no worse than the yearly jabs.

Our dog is going to vet so we can ask advice. He will be 17 this year and is a small dog too I'm really worried about it but also worried about breaking the law or him somehow losing his collar and getting lost (not happened so far but you never know)

I've had only one dog who bolted and I would have said, before that, that he was so completely bonded that he wouldn't even have gone out of line of sight. He was just spooked by something, very very unusually.

He was microchipped and we were phoned by a rescue two days later after he'd been picked up. I would never avoid chipping a dog after that.

We don't have a dog anymore, he was lost or stolen, we will never know. He was chipped and had a tag on. It's only useful if someone wants to get the dog back to it's rightful owner. If someone gets your dog all they have to do is not check for a chip and the chip is useless.

daisychicken your post has made me feel better about getting it done. Keep putting it off because of his age, arthritis, medication, bit deaf and blind now and the thought of someone sticking a microchip in him upset us. He's a tough old dog though so hopefully he'd be fine.

Yabu!

If my tiny 6 week old chihuahua can handle the microchip needle so can your 12 year old dog

It doesn't hurt them in the long run. Just a small jab that most don't notice

I have microchipped hundreds of dogs, cats and rabbits as a rescue centre manager. Very few animals react to the size of the needle and that includes 6wk old bunnies and kittens. IMO those that don't microchip are not being responsible owners and can shun ownership when want. We have seen animals that have been missing for years and got away from their NEW owners only to be reunited due to the microchip. I would say look at the big picture. You cannot predict the future x

My bag of bones jrt was microchipped at 9 weeks as he is an escape artist and I wanted anyone who found him to be able to get him back to us. We live in the middle of nowhere so minimal traffic etc but he does go wandering occasionally. He is best mates with the farm dogs down the road so often found there! He didn't even notice the needle and has no fat at all weighing less than 5kg at that point.

Yabu I don't understand why you wouldn't already have them chipped to be honest. It's a really simple thing to have done to look after your pet. Don't have a dog but do have a cat who is chipped. If chips caused a lot of health concerns they'd be well known about by now. Plus it's now a legal requirement to dog ownership so if you want to have a dog as a pet you need to get it done.

The Lodger (a recent cat) barely noticed the needle going in. (If at all.) I think he was more focussed on the treat the vet nurse was proffering to him.

Yabu i'm afraid.

YABU. It's the law, not guidance. You don't get to choose.

agree with Pp. it's not about him.running off.

there are so many circumstances beyond your control that could mean he gets lost or taken or gets scared and bolts.

that needle is all that can stand between him being PTS / living in a shelter or being reunited with his owners

m ow what id choose whether he was 12 weeks or 12 years.

I think that vet is being a bit hysterical. It takes seconds to microchip a dog, I really can't see what physical trauma or risk there would be for the vast majority of dogs.

And it is the law, although it's hard to see how it will be enforced.

Vets are obliged to advise owners that the law states their dog should be chipped we can not force you to chip your dog. You still as need to have a tag on your dog's collar with your name and address on it the chipping legislation does not replace the dog control act it is in addition to it.
There are smaller chips on the market now 'minichips' that are about half the size of regular chips and many practices have switched to these.

If a dog is found that isn't microchipped, will it automatically be put down?

I don't think people should be put off by the needle either. From my memory, Yes it's larger than the normal fine as fine injection needle - it has to be - but it's not some massive great thing as I recall.

Agusta no it won't be put down, but if and when the owner is found there will be s £500 fine.

A microchip is about the length of a grain and a half of rice and the needle is therefore the width of a grain of rice :)
Almost all dogs and cats don't notice. I had the litter of kittens I had chipped at 4 weeks old and they were absolutely fine :) (They were done so early as I have other animals and I was worried they were going to get out. It also meant if their new owners didn't change the details they'd come back to me)

Yabu I am a member of a lost/found pets page on facebook. Every day loads of dogs are lost usually for the first time. The majority are not chipped. It takes a few seconds to do. It can mean getting your dog back safely or not.

You need an exemption certificate from your vet. If they'll give you one, I think you are justified in not chipping your dog. If they won't, you'd be breaking the law for a 2 minute £10 job. It's a second of pain and over so quickly.

I was thinking I might not get my car insured, it's old and I've never crashed or had it stolen. It just seems pointless.

The thing is, if someone did steal your dog the microchip would be useless as it's only for reuniting lost dogs with owners. The type of people who steal dogs won't be taking them to their local vet and asking "can you check if he's microchipped". It can't be used as a GPS style tracker for owners to locate them.

Our pets are all microchipped (1 dog, 4 cats, 2 rabbits) because we have small children who are liable to leave gates/doors/cages open. In your position I can see why you might not want to.

YABU. It's the law. And more than that, your "I know he won't run off" is a very irresponsible attitude.