Estimates suggest that in the UK charities and local authorities have to deal with more than 100,000 lost or stray dogs each year, with a further 30,000 or so stray cats being reported to the RSPCA and Cats Protection. Many are found without any means of identification – even if collars and tags are usually worn, they can easily come off or be deliberately removed.

Microchipping is a quick and easy way to vastly increase the chances of your pet being returned to you should the unthinkable happen and he or she goes missing. It’s also becoming law in many parts of the UK – at present it is compulsory to have dogs microchipped in Northern Ireland and Wales, however from April 2016 it will also become compulsory throughout England.

The procedure itself is simple – a tiny chip the size of a grain of rice is inserted under the skin at the back of your pet’s neck. Each chip contains a unique 15-digit reference number that is stored with your contact details in a central database, permanently linking your pet to you.

Pet Id-chips are not much bigger than a grain of rice…and getting smaller all the time!

This does of course mean that it is imperative that you keep any change of address or contact numbers up to date, so don’t forget to register new details when you move house or get a new mobile or email address!

Any lost or stray animals are scanned routinely when they are picked up by vets, charities or local authorities; with one quick phone call you will soon be re-united with your beloved.

And the cost of the procedure itself is relatively low (average prices are around £20-£40 for the initial chip insertion) – we think that this is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that microchipping brings.

You can find more information from the UK’s biggest microchipping service, PetLog.

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with any of the organisations detailed here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.