Do you have a dog in Stoke Newington?

Together with Dogs Trust, Hackney Council are offering residents of Stoke Newington free dog microchipping worth around £25, in a bid to reduce the number of lost and stray dogs picked up in the borough.

Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and cares for over 16,000 dogs a year through its network of 17 rehoming centres across the country. The charity spent over £3M last year microchipping and neutering 35,000 dogs in key campaign areas across the UK.

No bigger than a grain of rice, the microchips are inserted into the skin of a dog through a sterile needle. Each microchip contains a unique number, which can be read through a scanner. When a dog is microchipped, this number, along with the name and address of the owner, is uploaded onto a database, which can be used by the Council’s Animal Warden Service, to find the owner and get the dog safely home.

Hackney Council has a legal responsibility to pick up stray dogs in the borough and provide kenneling for up to seven days. The Council hopes the microchipping clinics will help reunite more owners with their dogs, and thereby reduce the pressure stray dogs put on local services.

The first event takes place in Clissold Park, Stoke Newington on November 12, from 2 – 7pm. Dogs Trust staff will be on hand to offer low cost and free neutering vouchers, free basic dog training and general advice on dog ownership.

A further event will be on November 27, from 11am – 4pm at Butterfield Green, N16. Further events are scheduled to take place in 2011.

Councillor Sophie Linden, Cabinet Member for Crime, Sustainability and Customer Services, says: “The Council is embarking on this microchipping programme in order to encourage responsible dog ownership, and to reduce the number of stray dogs picked up in the borough. Of the 145 stray dogs picked up since April this year, only 21 were chipped. Losing a pet can cause distress to both the owner and to the animal, but stray animals also place pressure on local services, and can be dangerous if left to roam.”

Elvira Meucci-Lyons, Head of Community and Campaigns at Dogs Trust, adds: "Microchipping is a quick and easy way to greatly increase the chances of getting a lost dog safely back home - last year almost 35,000 dogs were reunited with their owners thanks to being microchipped. It is the most effective way to permanently identify your dog and an important part of being a responsible dog owner. We are very happy to be working in partnership with the Council on this project, and look forward to meeting dogs and their owners at the events.”

So if you are a pet owner in Stokey, pop along to these free sessions and get your dog microchipped and have the peace of mind that your beloved pet will find its way home if lost.

If this article has made you want to pamper your pets pop down to Parkers Pet Store at 147 Stoke Newington High Street and see their fantastic range of products for a variety of pets. Whether it is toys or treats to bedding and feeds, you will find what you want at Parkers Pet Store.