Microchipping
What is pet microchipping?
Microchipping is a quick and safe procedure which will increase the chances of your pet being returned to you if lost, injured or stolen.
The microchip is a small plastic chip that’s shaped like a grain of rice, which is inserted under the skin at the back of your pets neck. Each chip has a unique number and therefore will be unique to your pet. The number is then linked to your personal contact information, name address, phone numbers which is completed online or by post and registered in a central database.
It means if your pet did wander off, get lost, injured and was then presented to any vets, animal shelter, sanctuary, RSPCA, warden or police that they can scan your pet, get the number and then return your pet safely to you.
Book a microchipping appointment for your pet
Legal requirements for pet owners
It is a legal requirement for dogs to be microchipped and by June 2024, all cats in England over 20 weeks old must be implanted with a microchip. This is still not yet a requirement in Northern Ireland but we wholly support the notion that cats should be microchipped for their own safety. Barry’s Vets also recommends that rabbits and ferrets in County Down and County Armagh are microchipped, as pet thefts are on the rise.
Your pet can be microchipped at anytime by the vet, but we generally recommend it to be done either at the first or second vaccination appointment.