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Battersea highlights importance of cat microchips
Battersea scans every animal for a microchip when they are received.
Only two per cent of stray cats got home in 2022.

Battersea is urging cat owners to get their pet microchipped, after statistics from 2022 revealed that three in five cats were not microchipped.

This has affected the animal rescue charity’s ability to reunite missing cats with their owners, with only two per cent of stray cats being returned to their owners in 2022.

The appeal comes ahead of a new law, which comes into force on 10 June 2024, requiring many cat owners to microchip their pets. Cat owners found with unmicrochipped cats will have 21 days to get one implanted or they face a fine of up to £500.

Battersea is highlighting the importance of implanting pets with a microchip, and keeping the details up-to-date, in reuniting lost pets to their owners. The charity warns that non-existent or outdated microchips can mean they are unable to contact owners.

This was the case when a one-year-old cat, Kina, was brought into Battersea’s London centre after being found in a park. Kina appeared healthy and friendly, so Battersea staff suspected that she was someone’s pet.

However, because Kina had no microchip, Battersea was unable to identify her previous owners, and therefore had to find her a new home.

Battersea scans every animal for microchips when they are received, which can result in quick and easy reunions between pets and owners.

This was the case with two-year-old cat Alfie, who was brought to the rescue centre wearing a collar with an AirTag. A scan of Alfie’s microchip quickly put Battersea in contact with his owner, who confirmed he was not missing and collected him within the hour.

Rachel Saunders, cattery manager at Battersea, said:  "When a microchipped cat is brought to us as a stray, we can usually orchestrate a joyful reunion, sparing heartache for owners, but for most stray cats we take in, there is no chip at all, leaving us unable to trace where they may have come from.”

“With greater responsibility from cat and dog owners to update microchip information, we can reunite many more pets and spare countless families from needless suffering.”

More advice can be found here.

Image © Shutterstock

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.