Microchipping scheme for dogs launched in city

A FREE microchipping scheme for dogs is being piloted throughout the city by Lisburn City Council, in partnership with Dogs Trust.

This will take place at five local veterinary surgeries and is available to any dog owner living in the Lisburn area. It will operate until further notice.

Councillor James Tinsley, Chairman of the Council’s Environmental Services Committee, speaking about the scheme, said: “It is great news for the residents of Lisburn that Dogs Trust has joined forces with the Council and local veterinary surgeries to offer free microchipping to responsible dog owners. There are no restrictions as to which residents can take part in this pilot scheme.

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“Lisburn City Council is keen to ensure that dog owners are able to identify their dog should it be collected by its Dog Warden Service while straying. Microchipping is another form of owner identification in addition to the legally required dog licence.”

Ronnie Milsop, Campaigns Manager for Dogs Trust in Northern Ireland, added: “Dogs Trust is delighted to be working in partnership with Lisburn City Council and the participating local vet practices. Microchipping is quick and easy and is the most effective way to permanently identify a dog. Dogs Trust believes that this will help to reduce the stray dog problem in Northern Ireland and to help reunite lost pets with their owners.”

Microchipping is a veterinary procedure in which a small capsule, the size of a grain of rice, is injected under the dog’s skin. The microchip contains a unique reference number that can be linked to a computer database containing the owner’s contact details.

Mr Tinsley added: “Lisburn City Council would strongly advise microchipping as all dogs that are brought into its kennels are scanned to see if they have been microchipped so that the dog can be re-united with its owner. If your dog has not been microchipped please take it along to one of the veterinary surgeries undertaking this pilot and have this simple procedure done for free.”

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The veterinary surgeries that are offering free microchipping until further notice thanks to Dogs Trust are: Advance Veterinary Care, Moira Road, Lisburn Veterinary Clinic, Sloan Street, Glenburn Vets, Moss Road, Ian Moore Vets, Moira and Cromlyn House Vets, Hillsborough.

Lisburn City Council would like to request that dog owners always update the contact details with the microchip supplier if they move home or the dog which is microchipped is rehomed.