MPs proposed that dog microchip scanning could be made compulsory for vets.

BVA and BSAVA call for secondary legislation

While the Animal Welfare Act has been described as an "excellent piece of umbrella legislation", vets from the BVA and BSAVA have called for secondary legislation to make it easier to enforce.

The calls were made during a session in the House of Commons this week. MPs from the Efra Committee questioned John Chitty, vice president of the BSAVA and Heather Bacon, member of the BVA's Ethics and Welfare Group.

MPs proposed that dog microchip scanning could be made compulsory for vets, or that the contact details on the chip could be re-registered on an annual basis. The aim is to reduce the percentage of owners who fail to update their dog's microchip when it changes hands or when the owner moves house.

But being too heavy handed could have unintended consequences, Ms Bacon warned.

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