Protect your pets for just £5 at special event

As part of National Microchipping Month in June, Blue Cross is urging people to protect their pets by getting them microchipped as pets not fitted with a microchip could end up as one of thousands of homeless animals brought to rescue charities every year.

Over the past year, 70 per cent of pets admitted to the Kimpton centre for rehoming did not have a microchip, rising to 79 per cent for cats.

Lynda Campbell, manager of the centre in Kimpton said: “It’s so sad when we take in what seems to be a much-loved pet but with no way of finding their owner. It’s so important to microchip your animal to protect them if they should be lost or stolen. It’s a small price to pay when you consider the heartache of losing them forever.”

A microchip is a tiny device, the size of a grain of rice, which is injected under your pet’s skin and registered on a database with your contact details, which must be kept up to date.

If your animal should be found as a stray, a simple scan will reveal the microchip number and your contact details so you can be quickly reunited.

Microchipping usually costs around £20-£30 at a private vet but owners can protect their pets for just £5 during the special event at the Blue Cross rehoming centre on Kimpton Bottom, Kimpton, Herts, SG4 8EU.

Dogs, cats and small pets in a suitable carrier are welcome – advance booking is not essential.

Blue Cross cares for thousands of sick, injured and homeless pets every year, funded entirely by public donations. To find out more or make a donation, please contact the centre on 0300 777 1490 or visit www.bluecross.org.uk.