DOG and cat owners in Irvine are being encouraged to attend a microchipping event on Saturday 28 February to Sunday 1 March, to help protect their pets from being lost or stolen.

An important part of responsible pet ownership, microchipping is the most effective way of increasing the chances of a missing pet being returned safely to its owner and for dog owners this is becoming a compulsory part of caring for their pet.

Next month it becomes law in Wales that all dogs have to be microchipped by eight weeks old, with England following in April 2016. Pet owners can bring their cat or dog to Pets at Home Irvine any time on Saturday or Sunday and get their pet microchipped for the special rate of just £10* (usually £15).

The Irvine store team makes it very easy for pet owners to drop in and make use of the microchipping service. And for the majority of pet owners, the ‘peace of mind’ guarantee is worth the associated cost.

Andrew Fox, store manager at Pets at Home Irvine, said: “As the government deadlines approach, we want to highlight the benefits of microchipping to help owners avoid the heartache of losing a pet.

“Microchipping is a simple, relatively painless and essential procedure for ensuring the welfare of your pet.” The chip is roughly the size of a grain of rice, fits under the pet’s skin and contains information about its owner, making it easier for both to be reunited should they become separated for whatever reason.

At Pets at Home, when a chip is implanted, every pet is given a unique code number, which is then stored along with the owner’s contact details on the UK’s largest registration database, Petlog.** For more information on microchipping go to www.petsathome.com or contact your local Pets at Home store.