When you hear about an owner's heartache when they have lost their pet or the cruelty inflicted through ignorance or just down right maliciousness do you feel sadness, anger or outrage?

Good news for good owners - bad news for those that aren't.

The Dog Identification Group (DIG) is proposing a scheme for every dog to be identified by a microchip. It's not law yet, but all parties seem to be keen on the idea and that's a good sign.
The pet should feel no more discomfort from a microchip implant than from a conventional injection. Microchipping uses Radio Frequency (RFID) technology and cannot be tampered with, fade or be removed. The chip is deposited mid-line into the fatty area between the shoulder blades. The needle houses the microchip and is therefore larger than a conventional needle, however, a clever design allows it to incise the skin easily with very little discomfort. Some animals cry - most do not.

The Pet Passport Scheme already stipulates that all dogs and cats entering the UK must be micro chipped.

Microchipping is the accepted method of identifying most species of animals - worldwide. For instance, all zoos and endangered species programs use microchips for the majority of their animals - and that's a testament to microchip technology. It's been around since the early 1980's and there are literally millions of animals with chips. It has proved itself to be extremely reliable and safe.