Microchipping for all dogs

The British government is set to propose a scheme of compulsory microchipping for dogs.

Environment minister Lord Taylor said the government would be announcing a package of measures to tackle irresponsible owners “very shortly”.

He faced cross-party calls for compulsory chips at question time in the House of Lords.

But Tory former minister Lord Renton of Mount Harry warned the government to think “very carefully” before “insisting on compulsory microchipping” as many dogs “took badly” to having a chip inserted.

“Surely anyone who cannot control their dog should not have one,” he added.

But Lord Taylor replied: “I’m not sure the responders to the consultation would share your view on that matter and I’m not sure the government could say we share that view.

“We see microchipping as being part of the measures we can use to actually address what is an increasing problem.”

He said it cost £1,100 (€1,313) to rehouse each stray dog, which added up to an “enormous” bill for charities and local authorities of £57.5 million (€68.6 million) a year, and there was also the “human cost of attacks”.

Lord Taylor told peers: “In putting the package together we have considered and set out the pros and cons of various approaches towards compulsory microchipping dogs.

“The final package will cover future government handling of the issue as well as plans to improve standards of dog ownership.”

For the Opposition, Lord Grantchester pressed the minister on the timetable for bringing in the changes.

Lord Taylor stressed they would be announced “very shortly” and said that 58 per cent of dogs were already microchipped.