IT WAS all cats and dogs at the Tamworth pound as the council held a free microchipping day.
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With a cacophony of barking and hissing, the animals and owners were lined up right down to the carpark with pets of all age, size, and demeanour involved.
Council’s acting manager of health and environment, Ross Briggs, said that pet numbers are on the increase this year, as they have been for the past four years that the program has been running.
“It’s for those that have a bit of trouble covering the extra costs with dog and cat ownership, 70 per cent of animals picked up by the pound are not chipped, which makes it very difficult for us to re-unite them with their owners,” Mr Briggs said.
The NSW Companion Animals Act states that all cats and dogs must be identified by a microchip by the age of 12 weeks, or at the point of sale.
There was no stop to the feline and canine arrivals as the animals marched one by one into the office for their chips.
At the end of the day 120 of man’s best friend, and a few cats, had official state registered names and addresses.
“There are only five animals in the pound at the moment, that is at least half of the usual number, which shows us programs such as the microchipping day and the new pound Facebook page really are working, and getting to the public,” Mr Briggs said.
Mr Briggs also reminds the public to keep the information updated if the
animal is relocated or the owners have changed address or details.
The microchipping day on Thursday occurred in the same week that Tamworth citizens were told by the police that a pet dog is one of the best ways to deter potential burglars and other criminals from entering your property.