As a responsible pet owner, or someone thinking of becoming one, it’s vital to know your legal duties in the UK regarding microchipping and identification.
Our pets bring so much joy into our lives -- they’re friends, confidants, and cherished members of the family. Because they mean so much to us, the thought of them going missing is truly upsetting. Sadly, it happens more often than many of us realise, with thousands of pets each year getting lost, stolen, or finding themselves without a home.
With so many households in the UK built around the love of a pet, it’s important that we do everything we can to keep them safe. Thankfully, the government recognises just how valuable our furry friends are and has introduced laws to help protect them.
In England, Wales, and Scotland, all dogs over the age of 8 weeks must be microchipped. (BSAVA)
The microchip must be registered with an approved pet microchipping database. Owners are legally responsible for ensuring contact details are kept up to date. (Blue Cross)
Failing to comply can result in a fine (up to about £500) and possibly other legal consequences. (BSAVA)
From 10 June 2024 owners must ensure that their owned cats, over the age of 20 weeks, are microchipped. (BSAVA)
Again, contact details must be stored in an approved pet microchipping database and kept up to date. (GOV.UK)
If caught without microchipping after the deadline, owners generally have 21 days to comply (get the cat chipped) or may face a fine of up to £500. (Blue Cross)
Feral cats, farm cats, community cats with “little or no human interaction or dependency” are exempt under the current law in England. (GOV.UK)
This law is little known, but could lead to hefty fines and even a custodial sentence! Even if your dog is microchipped (which is mandatory), there is also a legal requirement under UK law for dogs in public places to display identification via a collar and tag. Here's what that means.
The relevant law is the Control of Dogs Order 1992 (Statutory Instrument 1992 No. 901). (Legislation.gov.uk)
Any dog in a highway or in a place of public resort must wear a collar with the owner’s name and address inscribed on the collar itself, or on a plate or badge attached to it. (Legislation.gov.uk)
It is not enough to have a tracking device fitted, or that the dog is microchipped; the collar/tag requirement is separate and must be complied with. (Blue Cross)
While some may find it pedantic, it is technically not accepted to have the tag on a harness instead. (Legislation.gov.uk)
Penalties for failing to comply (dog in public without proper name & address on collar or tag) can include fines. The exact amount may vary; some sources reference fines of up to £5,000 for certain breaches. (Blue Cross)
It’s mainly local authorities / councils / dog wardens, not usually frontline police, who enforce the dog tag law. julius-k9.co.uk+2bathnes.gov.uk+2
The law says councils are responsible for enforcing “The Control of Dogs Order 1992.”
Reuniting lost pets: Microchips are more permanent than collars/tags (which can fall off or be removed), but tags are immediate identifiers for anyone finding your dog.
Legal liability: If your dog causes damage or is found wandering, being identifiable helps resolve issues more easily (and may reduce penalties). You, or the person in charge of your dog at the time (me!), may also be fined up to £5,000 if they do not have the correct identification, or if it is not up to date.
Animal welfare: They help prevent “stray” status, unnecessary kenneling or worse.
Microchip your puppy before 8 weeks; for cats, do so before 20 weeks (if owned, in England).
Register the microchip with a government-approved database and keep all contact details current (name, address, postcode, etc.).
For dogs (& especially those you allow off-lead): always walk out with a collar that has your name & address (at least house number or name + postcode); many people also add a phone number (recommended, though not legally mandatory under the collar/tag law).
Check tags/collars for wear & tear; replace as necessary so they remain legible.
If your dog is a working dog, guide dog, etc., check whether any exemptions apply (some do under the Control of Dogs Order). Unfortunately, there are no exemptions if your dog just doesn't like wearing a collar. (RSPCA)
By staying up to date with these simple but important requirements, we’re not only following the law and protecting our wallet from potential hefty fines, we’re protecting the ones who trust us most. A collar, a tag, a microchip: they’re small things that can make a world of difference if our pets ever find themselves lost.
At the end of the day, these safeguards give us peace of mind, knowing we’ve done everything possible to keep our furry companions safe and bring them back home where they belong.