Dog owners are being offered the chance to have their dogs microchipped for free.
Microchipping your dog will become a legal requirement from next year. Pet owners in Scotland are being offered the service by the Dog's Trust, in conjunction with local vets, ahead of the change in the law. Around 200,000 dogs across the country are believed to be unchipped, around a third of all dogs.
The procedure involves placing a small chip - no bigger than a grain of rice - under the skin. It contains the owner's details, and can be scanned by the authorities to determine the owner of a dog. It's hoped it will cut crime and help return strays to their owners.
Adrian Burder, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, says:
"From April 2016 it will be compulsory for each and every dog in Scotland to be microchipped which represents a significant step forward for dog welfare and responsible dog ownership.
"To show its support for the implementation of this legislation, Dogs Trust is teaming up with vets across Scotland to make sure that all dog owners can have the procedure done for free. An essential element to the success of microchipping is for dog owners to take responsibility for updating their details with the database should their circumstances change."
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