Compulsory microchipping of cats and dogs...

[Fran]

http://www.cawg.org.uk/page.php?pid=30



Your views?

[Mags]

Definately a good idea, it would hopefully, lessen the number of strays and abandoned cats and dogs, make it a lot easier to reunite owner and pet ...... and result in fewer poor animals taken into Rescue.

Of course you will still have the problem of ferals ........ but definately all pet cats and dogs should be chipped.

I would also suggest a fine for any owner found to have deliberately abandoned their "pet"........

[dinahsmum]

Good idea.

If I ruled the world (cue music) I would go further. I would have cat and dog 'licenses' or 'permits', which would come in at £50 per annum cats, £100 a year dogs. This would allow (enforce) 'free' neutering, at least one vet visit per annum and annual vaccinations and worm/flea/tick etc treatment. It would also give 'free' initial consultations (?up to 3 conditions per year) and (at end of life) free euthanasia and cremation. The vets would be given authority and responsibility for enforcement and fee collection, backed up by the force of law. The annual licence for unneutered animals would be huge - say £500, maybe more.
The figures would have to be looked at to ensure it stacked up - I think it could.

Now wouldn't that change things? Every cat a wanted cat, to amend an old slogan.

I'm really what this world needs - a benign dictator!

[Fran]

Hmmmm, I'm all in favour of compulsory microchipping and I wouldn't in theory be against your idea of a license too DM. But I wouldn't be impressed if I was forced to neuter my pets I breed from my Labs and it is always done absolutely to the letter and more, all health tests etc. etc. However, At the amounts you have quoted per license, I would save a fortune over the year taking into account all the inclusive benefits

[charliebubs]

I agree that compulsory chipping is a great idea. I wouldn't own an animal without a chip now anyway, but so many people still do.
I'm in agreement with Fran about the neutering though. There are good breeders out there who breed their animals exactly to the letter of the guidelines and to better the breed. I hope to be one of them too!
But a licence for pets isn't a bad idea.

[alexgirl73]

Hmm it's a difficult one I think. If you are going to let your cats out then yes, definitely, but for those with house cats who don't even get in to the garden then I'm not so sure. I have a low income and couldn't afford to pay for microchipping for my 3 or afford a licence fee, yet I will make sure that they have medical care if I have to eat beans for a month, so it would make it almost impossible for people in circumstances like my own to actually be able to have a pet at all!!

[dinahsmum]

I think the animal charities should be able to turn their attention to helping people on low incomes/who fall on hard times/poor pensioners etc to have a pet. After all, they shouldn't be dealing with rescues/cruelty cases etc in anything like the numbers there are now, so will be able to work 'differently'

[smudgley]

Compulsory microchipping would never work.

[Fran]

Originally Posted by smudgley

Compulsory microchipping would never work.

Why do you think it wouldn't work Smudgely??

[smudgley]

Because I don't think people/breeders would get their pets done, yes the responsible ones would, but then they probably already do, the others wouldn't & how could they enforce it?