Good dogs get cheap chips
Next week Waikato District Council is offering dog microchipping for just $20 – down from $37 – on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 March.
The service will run from 11am to 3pm, at Lake Hakanoa Domain, Huntly on the Tuesday and The Point, Ngaruawahia on Wednesday.
Animal Control manager John Bowler said microchipping is a simple, lifelong way to identify dogs, resulting in a speedier return if were ever lost, stolen or injured.
The effectiveness of microchipping was proved a couple of years ago when one of his animal control officers was able to reunite a dog with its owner, after it was found 540km away from home.
“The dog was picked up wandering in Ngaruawahia, after scanning her microchip we realised she was a long way from her home – Wainuiomata in Lower Hutt. We contacted the owner and thanks to the microchip there was a very happy reunion.”
Mr Bowler urged dog owners to take advantage of this cheap and easy offer and said there would be Masterpet giveaways up for grabs on both days.
“It’s a quick and simple procedure involving the insertion of a microchip, which is about the size of a grain of rice, into the scruff of the dog’s neck,” he said.
The microchip contains a number belonging only to that dog, enabling secure and reliable identification.
Since 1 July 2006, all dogs registered in New Zealand for the first time (except farm dogs used for stock control) must be microchipped.
Dogs classified as dangerous or menacing, dogs impounded but not registered and dogs registered but impounded twice are also required to be microchipped.
Dog owners who fail to get their dogs’ microchipped could be fined.
For more information about dog microchipping and the microchipping events click this helpful link.
And, while we have your attention – here is a heads-up for an important event:
