England
Yes. From April 2016 it was a legal requirement for ALL dogs to be microchipped and contact details up-to-date.
The Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015 is now enforced by local authorities, police constables, community support officers and any other person which the Secretary of State may authorise to act as an enforcer of the regulations.
Scotland
Yes. From 6th April 2016 every keeper of a dog older than 8 weeks of age must have it microchipped. Microchipped means having the dog both implanted with a compliant microchip and the details set out being recorded by a database operator compliant with the rules set out in the Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016.
Wales
Yes. From 6th April 2016 it was compulsory to have your dog microchipped. It is a legal requirement under The Microchipping of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2015.
As part of the new law, it is also essential that you keep your registered details up to date. This includes your address if you move house or change your telephone number.
N. Ireland
Yes. Microchipping of dogs has been mandatory in Northern Ireland since 2012. The Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 requires dogs to be microchipped in order to obtain a valid dog licence.Sections 13 and 14 of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 requires microchipping of cats and dogs prior to sale/transfer and prior to reaching 12 weeks of age.
Schedule 2 of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 and Schedule 4 of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Regulation 2009 outline what information must be recorded in the microchip database.
From 6 April 2016, microchipping of dogs in all other parts of the UK becomes mandatory in accordance with The Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015
Republic of Ireland
Yes. Since The Microchipping of Dogs 2015 Act was signed in March 2015 and came into force on 1st June 2015, all all dogs in the State should be microchipped and registered on a national database.
Channel Islands
No. For instance, in Jersey all dogs aged six months or more must be licensed each year under the Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961. Each licence is specific to one dog and can’t be transferred to another dog.
You don’t need a licence if the dog is:
- younger than six months old
- used solely by a blind or deaf person for their guidance
In Guernsey the Douzaines of five parishes; St Peter Port, Castel, St Saviour, St Pierre du Bois and St Martins agreed to support the GSPCA’s dog microchipping and registration initiative by meeting the initial cost of microchipping through the dog licence fee.
Isle of Man
No. While a new law came into force on 6 April, making dog microchipping compulsory in England, Scotland and Wales. It doesn’t apply to the Isle of Man yet but if you are taking your pet off island, make sure they are chipped and the details are up-to-date.
