THE importance of microchipping was at the forefront of Tamworth pet owners’ minds yesterday with the council’s free chipping day at the pound attracting people two hours before the official start.
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TAFE teacher and vet Dr Debra Braithwaite said it was always a popular day.
“We had people waiting at 8am,” she said.
“We have TAFE vet nursing students and commercial microchipping students doing the chipping and speaking to people about general pet health. They are supervised by vets.”
Dr Braithwaite said the students had to do skills sheets, a theory test and assignment questions as well as the practice before they could be accredited.
“It’s great because the council does this as well as a desexing and vaccination day with the RSPCA, giving vouchers to those in genuine need to contribute towards the cost,” she said.
“It’s a chance to get everything checked and make sure all pets are microchipped, registered, desexed and vaccinated. It’s a great way to make sure animals are getting microchipped and giving the students hands-on experience.”
As well as students, there was an Armidale Dumaresq Council ranger and dog breeders from Armidale and Tamworth getting accredited.
Dr Braithwaite urged owners to keep their details up to date with the microchip register.
“We see so many animals who are not microchipped or do not have updated details,” she said.
“It can be the difference between an animal being euthanised or being returned to their owners.”
The animals are scanned first to make sure there is no chip already in place and then they have a local anaesthetic before the chip is inserted near their neck.
Armidale beagle breeder Sharon Gilkison said she needed to do 15 microchips across cats and dogs to be accredited.
“It’s very useful because I can do them when required,” she said.
Tamworth kelpie breeder Sarah Mortimer, an equine nursing student doing the course, said not a lot of working dogs were chipped because it wasn’t a requirement, but said she would definitely have all of hers done.
“I had a dog run away in a foreign environment and plan to have all mine done now,” she said.
“If they run away, it’s the best form of identification and to get them recovered.”
The microchipping day averages between 80 to 140 chips each time it is run.
