Microchipping Roadshow is a record breaker

Being labelled an ‘outstanding success’, the event was also a record breaker seeing a staggering 446 dogs receiving the identifying tag over four days.

Believed to beat the UK record for the number of dogs chipped by one person in one day, the Riverside park roadshow also microchipped a massive 157 dogs in around four hours!

Environmental Warden, Karen Mitchell explained: “From April 2012 it will be a legal requirement to have your dog microchipped. And to help local dog owners, Ballymoney Borough Council, in conjunction with the Dogs Trust, held seven roadshows throughout the Borough last week.

“We obviously hoped the events were going to attract responsible dog owners but never in our wildest dreams did we anticipated its outstanding success.

“All in all the Roadshow microchipped 446 dogs and gave out 148 neutering vouchers over the four day period, which was brilliant.

“60 dogs were microchipped at the Fulton Park Recreation Grounds, Balnamore Road Roadshow, 50 at the Riverside Park, Knock Road, Dervock, 26 at Cloughmills Community Centre, Culcrum Road, Cloughmills, 70 at Bush Park, Main Street, Stranocum, 46 at Rasharkin Community Centre, Duneany Road, Rasharkin and 37 at St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Bridge Road, Dunloy.

“We also believe that the Riverside Park and Armour Avenue Roadshow broke the UK record for the number of dogs chipped by one person in one day.”

Ballymoney Borough Council would like to thank the Dogs Trust for their support in organising the event.

Karen continued: “A special thanks goes to Samuel Reid from Dogs Trust who did a fantastic job of microchipping so many dogs and worked tirelessly throughout the four days.

“Also special thanks to the Ballymoney Times for promoting the event in their newspaper and online as well as all the local businesses who displayed posters.

“However none of this success would have been possible without the support of all the responsible dog owners who came along. I have never met so many brill dog owners and so many well looked after and loved dogs in all my years.”

Agreeing Samuel Reid from Dogs Trust added: “I was totally overwhelmed by the number of responsible dog owners who came along to the Roadshows.

“The Ballymoney dog owners that came along should be proud of themselves. They are really lovely people who love their pets.

“I have done many Roadshows and chipped many dogs, however Riverside Park was the most I have ever done in one day - which is an amazing accomplishment.

“I to would personally like to thank everyone for coming along as well as Ballymoney Borough Council for inviting the Dog Trust to be part of this success.”

Ballymoney Borough Council is hoping to run more Microchipping Roadshows in the New year - so watch this space for more details.

For more information please contact the Environmental Warden, Karen Mitchell on 028 27660257.