Councils should have to scan killed dogs for microchips, says charity ahead of free Northampton event

Harvey’s Army say that, although microchipping of dogs becomes law on April 6, there is no law to say that pets killed on local authority roads must be scanned.

It means that owners desperate to find out the fate of a lost dog are often denied the chance to find out what happened to them.

Nina Blackburn, of Harvey’s Army, said: “Every year, right across the country hundreds of animals are incinerated when they could have been identified and the owner notified and given some closure.

“People spend as opposed to spending years searching for their beloved pet—sometimes spending thousands in the process.

“People love their pets as family members and being denied closure has tormented them by not knowing if their pet is hurting, cold, hungry, being beaten or has met any other horrible fate.”

Harvey’s Army is an online animal ‘reunite’ group and registered charity formed after a miniature poodle named Harvey was killed on the M62 in November 2013. As no one scanned him for a micro chip his owners, still believing he was alive searched for over 13 weeks for him. However Harvey had been disposed of by the Highways Agency.

Although the law means the Highways Agency will scan pets found on its own roads, the rule does not extend to council roads.

To help kick off the campaign and support the new microchipping law, Harvey’s Army will be at the Crown Inn in Hardingstone on Saturday April 2 and Sunday April 3.

There will be free micro chipping for all dogs on both days by qualified implanters and all dogs will be registered with Pet Log.

To make an appointment call the Crown Inn on Northampton 708726.