The Kennel Club and Petlog have launched www.chipitcheckit.co.uk, a new website to help make the new law regarding the compulsory microchipping of dogs as straightforward as possible for dog owners.

The website is a one-stop shop for everything people need to know about compulsory microchipping, from checking a microchip to advice, tips and downloads for breeders, vets, dog owners and more, to ensure all dog owners and breeders are complying with the law.

The Kennel Club, the UK’s largest dog welfare organisation, is dedicated to reuniting dogs and owners through its reunification database, Petlog, the UK’s largest lost and found database for microchipped pets. The organisation campaigned for compulsory microchipping as part of the Microchipping Alliance.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “The new website was created to answer any questions that dog owners, breeders, vets and local authorities may have on anything related to compulsory microchipping. One of the main concerns voiced by dog owners regarding compulsory microchipping legislation, related to how it impacts them specifically, especially with different regulations across England, Wales and Scotland.

“The legislation will go a long way towards improving dog welfare by greatly increasing dog owners’ chances of being reunited with a missing pet and we hope this website helps increase awareness of everyone’s individual responsibilities when the new law comes into force in April.”

All dog owners in England, Wales and Scotland have until April 6th, 2016 to have their dog microchipped and register them with a government compliant microchip database. After that date, all puppies must be microchipped and registered with a microchip database by the time they are eight weeks old. Anyone who does not have their dog microchipped after April 6th will have 21 days to have the dog microchipped, and failure to do so may result in a fine.

The microchipping regulations do not affect the requirement for collars and tags as part of the Control of Dogs Order 1992.