How to tell my rescue dog's age...

[JodiLeighLeigh]

Baldrick, my rescue cocker, is about 4 according to the vet.

When we adopted him, the rescue centre noted that he already had a microchip but that there was no info against the chip's record. This is actually quite common for docked tailed dogs...the breeder (of only a select few breeds) nowadays needs to prove that at least 1 of a litter will be a working dog, then they can legally dock the tails on the whole litter.

The catch is that the vet who does it is legally bound to insert an identichip at the time of docking. Subsequently, this is commonly done with no info as to who will be the owner of the dog.

After this was done, it looks like the breeder of my pup was then irresponsible and sold Baldrick without writing to the identichip people to give the new owner's details, and the complete twunt of a new owner didn't either.

Balders was in an absolute state when we rescued him, and that wasn't helped my the fact that the shelter we got him from was against the idea of paying a groomer to remove the dreadlocks that engulfed him.

I'm getting a touch off point...

My question is: although the chip now has my details against it, is there likely to be an insertion date? Is this the type of info that they record?

I would think they should be able to tell you. When a dog is microchipped, the form is sent off and there is a "date of insertion"box to fill in. Lately some companies have changed to an on-line database, and the form sent electronically (probably in the last 2 years), but even then i imagine it records the date.

Bless Baldrick's heart, so glad he has found you:)

If they never received any owners details they probably never got a chip insertion date. Most reputable chip companies encourage microchip inserts to pre-register chips to their business so if some reason details don't arrive etc. the chip inserted may be able to help, however there is no legal requirement to do this. It is entirely possible that your details are the very first information that the chip company had that the chip had been used.

Oh yeah, good point lonecat I didn't consider that! Some of our rescue charities have their own chips that are pre-registered to their business. We implant the chips, but the forms go back to the charity for them to send off when the cats are homed. Sorry op, you may not get your answer after all.

Aw balls . Thanks anyway...suppose the best I can try is calling the chip company.