Dog owners reminded of licence changes

The reminder from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development states that from this date, all dogs, including greyhounds, kept under a block licence issued on or after April 9 2012, are to be microchipped if they are eight weeks or more old.

Also anyone applying for a block licence, on or after January 1 2013, must have any dog aged eight weeks or over microchipped before they apply for the licence.

Dogs Trust is providing free microchipping, for any dog including greyhounds kept under either a single dog licence or a block licence, until 31 December 2012.

Dog owners are encouraged to contact the Borough Council to obtain more information on how to avail of the free chipping offer while there is still time.

If a dog is not microchipped in accordance with the Dogs Order 1983 and the Dogs (Licensing and Identification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012, it will not be considered licensed, which is an offence liable to prosecution.