Waikato District Council is offering dog microchipping for just $20 – down from $37 – on Tuesday April 16 at Joyce Petchell Park, Wainui Road, Raglan from 11am to 2pm. The location in Joyce Petchell Park is just along from the museum.
So dog owners take advantage of this cheap and easy offer! In addition there will be Masterpet giveaways up for grabs on the day.
Waikato District Council ran two similar dog microchipping events in Huntly and Ngaruawahia last month offering dog owners cheap chips and these events were well received by the community. As a result of this and an expressed desire from the Raglan community this cheap chips event has now been organised in Raglan.
The council’s Animal Control manager John Bowler said microchipping was not only a legal requirement for most dogs, but was also in the best interest of your canine companions.
“Microchipping is a simple, lifelong way to identify your dog, resulting in a speedier return if it was ever lost, stolen or injured.”
Mr Bowler said 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.”
“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.