Call to microchip all dogs

The number of stray dogs in the UK saw the largest year-on-year increase since records began, a study has revealed.

Dogs Trust, which released the figures, said that 107,228 strays were found in the twelve months to March 2009, an 11 per cent increase on the previous period. It blamed the rise on changes to dog control laws and the the possible impact of the recession.

“Previously we had seen a steady decline, but the latest statistics show a huge jump in the number of stray dogs both handled and put to sleep by local authorities,” said Dogs Trust chief executive Clarissa Baldwin.

“Some dog wardens mentioned the recession could have been an attributing factor to the increase, while others cited the change in the stray dog law last April,” she added.

The Charity called on the government to introduce compulsory microchipping for all dogs in the UK in a bid to help trace abandoned pets.

“Microchipping is an essential part of being a responsible dog owner and has helped so many people become reunited with their beloved pets,” said Clarissa Baldwin.

A 2008 change in the law means that statutory responsibility for stray dogs in England and Wales has passed from police to local authorities. Councils often lack the funding to round up the animals while limited working hours mean that people who rescue strays are often forced to keep the them overnight.

The report, the 2009 Stray Dog Survey, shows that 31 per cent of stray dogs that were returned to their owners in the last year were returned with the help of microchips. It also showed that an average of 12 stray and abandoned dogs an hour are handled by local authorities.

Dogs Trust invests approximately £5m each year in neutering, microchipping and education programmes, with 307,000 dogs neutered and 228,500 microchipped since the campaigns began in 1999.