Get Your Dog A Free Chip For Christmas

A few weeks still remain for dog owners to get their pets a free ‘chip’ for Christmas.

The free microchipping service offered by the Dogs Trust, in partnership with Ards Borough Council, ends on 31December after more than a year in operation during which time 10,000 dogs in Ards have had the unique identification chip inserted.

Microchipping is now a requirement for every dog after new legislation came into force which means every dog must have a microchip in order to be licensed, making the job of returning animals to their owners much easier should they stray or get lost.

Appointments can still be made with any one of seven local vets where dogs can be microchipped at no cost. The vets offering free microchipping are: Balloo Vets, Killinchy; Claire Ferris Veterinary Clinic, Millisle; Peninsula Veterinary Clinic, Donaghadee, Peninsula Veterinary Clinic, Kircubbin, Comber Veterinary Clinic, Jubilee Vets, Newtownards and at Ards Veterinary Clinic, North Street, Newtownards.

Anyone who would like further information about microchipping or any dog control issue, should contact the Borough Inspector’s Office at Ards Borough Council, Tel: 028 9182 4005, E: ards@ards-council.gov.uk or visit www.ards-council.gov.uk.

And if you live outside the Ards Borough Council area, why not just call into your local vet and have your dog chipped? Might save your little friend from a lot of suffering if lost at any time.