Compulsory microchipping for council tenants’ dogs
27 Nov 2008 08:02
A LONDON council has become the first in the country to introduce a compulsory microchipping scheme.
The new scheme means that all of Wandsworth council’s tenants have to microchip their dogs as part of their housing regulations. Those who refuse will face eviction.
The scheme is being backed by the RSPCA, which believes it will be an important test case in finding out if chipping can be used successfully in the fight against anti-social behaviour.
Subject to consultation, the new regulations will apply to all tenants from early next year, although no enforcement action will be taken against existing tenants for a few months to give them time to get their animals chipped.
The free service will also be offered to all leaseholders and their sub-tenants in council-owned blocks and estates.
This will increase the scheme’s effectiveness, the authority believes.
It is estimated that 4,000 dogs live on the borough’s estates.
“Recording ownership details on a database will help the council deal quickly with strays and take action against tenants who allow their dogs to cause a nuisance,” a council spokesman said.
“We have been encouraging dog owners to microchip their animals for a long time, and we run regular microchipping sessions.
Control measures
“We have been at the forefront of dog control measures, and have the largest local authority dog control service in the country.
“Our wardens pick up any stray dog they find and check to see if it has been chipped. If it has, it is then returned to its owner.”
The RSPCA said it would be keeping a close eye on Wandsworth’s new rules.
“Microchipping is something we have supported for quite some time,” a spokesman said.
“We know it’s useful for returning dogs to their owners, but we’ve never been able to assess how useful it is in terms of anti-social behaviour.
“Wandsworth will give us some key data and will allow us to convince other local authorities that this approach does work.
“This is the first time there’s been a large-scale, compulsory microchipping scheme, and we’re fully supportive of this measure.”
London Mayor Boris Johnson is worried about what the Metropolitan Police say has been an increase in dog attacks.
At Mayor’s Question Time recently Mr Johnson called it ‘a very worrying vogue’, and said the problem should be ‘raised on the political agenda’.
He has agreed to help set up a Greater London Authority action plan.
“It is scary for people who find these dogs intimidating, and in many cases it can be tragic for the dogs themselves,” he said.