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?

If you have insurance for your dog? Just make sure it doesn't invalidate it if he isn't chipped. Mine is a complete baby and a mummy's girl and barely noticed the chip going in.

I had two dogs previously never had them boosted and only visited vets once for a barbed wire tear and the other dog at the end of his days for a check up. My new dog hasn't been to the vets since he's early checks and vaccinations and vet has said boosters are optional there is no evidence they are necessary.

How do you get flea and worm treatment when the dog never sees a vet?

I just go in and buy them, flea treatment on 1st of the month wormer (half a tab) every three months. He is usually with me and I weigh him there if they ask but I weigh him at home so I know his weight anyway.

I wonder if it varies from vet to vet.

If you fancy a £ 500 fine then go for it

I think you have 21 days to comply or then face a fine.

My dog was stolen, and when we found him the microchip was what proved ownership. We wouldn't have got him back otherwise.
He wasn't a puppy or a fancy breed.

So yes, YABU B

Don't know where that rogue B came from...!

For cat owners the chip is really useful as it ensures only the chipped cat gets through the catflap.

How long did it take to be reunited Well?

Lightening - I'm struggling to accept that a vet would say annual boosters are optional. My understanding is that they don't get the same stuff in each annual booster - there will be new, more effective treatments for new/changing diseases over time. I seem to remember my dogs having additional jabs for things like kennel cough and parvo virus. You may be right of course and the boosters may be a waste of time, but I wouldn't want to take the risk.

Yes Stonecircle, that's correct (I said this upthread). And it is the Council (probably) who will issue these so the chances of getting one are slim. I have a dog who has reached the average lifespan for his breed. He hates the vets. So I'm not rushing to do it. If I had a new pup | would do it without a thought.

If they want to do this effectively they need to have all the vets scanning as a matter of course whenever a dog is seen.

I think the vets will scan, but the government has said:

We do not expect vets to enforce the microchipping requirements. However, in cases where vets do come across an unmicrochipped dog they can advise the owner about the requirement.

Vets are not going to be 'the enforcers'.

Spot checks down at the park would be good maybe.

It can be a positive move

Littlefluffyclouds81 to be honest, most of that bad luck was to do with two particular dogs. None of my other dogs have been the types to leg-it at the first opportunity. When the fence came down the first time, two took off and the other one wouldn't go through the gap. The dog that ran off with my older bitch when the plumber left the gate open was still a youngster and just followed her instinctively. He's now nearly 11 and has never shown the slightest inclination to run off again.

The older bitch was the same one that ended up in the park and at the riding school. She was very much an independent bugger a free-spirit and a very bad influence that dog. Such a character, but honestly a full time job she was. We lost her to bone cancer in 2013 and I still miss her sooo much, every single day.

Little Fluffy Clouds takes me right back to the free festivals of the late 80s, early 90s. Happy days!

We knew an old dog who had a similar temperament. One day he was found in the opposite side of the village and very confused. He had also gone out withou his collar. I would microchip any dog

One of our dogs is a bolter. If he gets the scent of a fox in the woods he's off. He's a rescue cross breed with the body of a lab and the head of a greyhound so it's impossible to fasten his collar tight enough to stop it slipping off easily without throttling him. From his behaviour he's clearly not had a great start in life so anything which stops him ending up lost again can only be good.

YABVU. Older dogs are prone to eyesight and hearing problems and even doggy dementia. You don't want the old boy wandering off confused and never being able to get back to you. He'd almost certainly be put down. :(

Both of my cats are microchipped. I have one who objects loudly to anything that's being done to her without her consent (she only consents to being fed, petted when she wants and nothing else) and the vet is still intact after microchipping her so it must have been OK.
During our annual check-ups I always ask the vet to check the chips to see if they are still in place. Never had a problem with them and our older cat has had it since 2009.
I understand that a homeopathic vet objects to it because he probably hasn't come up with the idea of soaking the microchip in 100 gallons of filtered water to provide an antidote to the possible adverse reactions yet. In fact, I'm going to the patent office now to have the idea protected so am willing to sell it to him.

Stonecircle my vet upon asking said it was optional not compulsory when I asked why he explained that there are two schools of thought as to whether boosters are effectivel or necessary therefore it's optional. I agree that kennel cough is different if I left him in kennels I would get all his boosters including kennel cough done but luckily I have never had to leave a dog in kennels I either take them or leave them with family. I have never had boosters for my cats either tbh I am surprised but not judging, how many people do.

A dog doesn't have to be in kennels to catch kennel cough!!! My dog has had it - very distressing for her. She's never been near kennels

I would think that anything could be picked up from unvaccinated dogs when they are out for a walk and encounter other unvaccinated dogs.

I totally agree Sparkling all dogs should be vaccinated its the annual boosters they don't need