The explosion in Scotland’s abandoned dogs population must be tackled before microchipping can be effective, it has been claimed.
Chairman of Angus Dog Rescue, Ian Robb, claimed that while he backs mandatory canine chipping in theory, in practice it would be almost impossible to enforce.
Mr Robb’s comments come after calls were made for the Scottish Government to follow Westminster’s lead in introducing a law that will see microchips inserted in every dog in England by 2016.
He said: “It’s something I support, but at the end of the day it is simply not going to work.
“If we look at the situation just now there is no legislation to restrict breeding or abandonment, and as it is the police and animals charities are at full stretch.
“Also, how are you going to get criminals and people involved in the drug world to comply with getting their dogs microchipped?”
The Scottish Government has confirmed there are no plans to bring in microchipping, and have raised concerns over the expense involved.
Mr Robb, who has taken a petition for tighter breeding controls to Holyrood, said that even if an abandoned dog was found with a chip there would be little to stop irresponsible owners claiming it had escaped or that they had given it away.
He said: “We need to sort out the legislation first before we can think about anything else.”
Angus Dog Rescue has been inundated with Staffordshire bull terriers over the past few years, but in recent weeks has seen a spike in larger breeds such as rottweilers, German shepherd/husky crosses, lurchers and a more unusual Weimaraner.
Another Angus animal organisation, Carnoustie Canine Capers, actively promotes the microchipping of dogs and other pets through information stalls at all their events. A spokeswoman for the group said the measure makes it far easier for police and rescue centres to trace owners or the original breeders, and reunite dogs with their families.
She added: “Ethical breeders will microchip puppies before going to their forever homes.
“Rescue centres generally do as well before rehoming. Micro-chipping enables authorities to trace owners where stray dogs may have bitten someone, or stolen dogs are found as part of baiting in dog fighting rings.
“We hear all about the negative side of dogs, but dogs do provide some wonderful assistance to humanity through assistance dogs such as Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hearing Dogs, Canine Partners, Dementia Dogs.
“It costs less to microchip a dog than it does to pay for recovery for a lost dog that has been picked up and spent a night in kennels. Microchipping is the best present you can buy for your dog.
“In Australia it has been compulsory in most regions for more than 10 years”
The Canine Capers website include advice on what steps owners should take if their dog goes missing. The group also promotes the use of smartphone apps where a pet’s details can be recorded.
Each year about 110,000 dogs in Britain are abandoned or lost, at a cost of £57 million to the taxpayer and welfare charities. In more than half the cases the owners cannot be identified.
Microchips, which are the size of a grain of rice and are fitted under the skin between the dog’s shoulder blades, allow vets, councils and charities to find out who owns a dog if it is thought to be a stray.
About 60% of the UK’s eight million pet dogs are already microchipped.
gbletcher@thecourier.co.uk.