A number of owner-led campaigns for compulsory scanning have been growing momentum.

Letter calls on ministers to oppose measure on 'animal welfare and public safety grounds'.

The BVA is calling on vets to lobby their local MPs about the 'unintended consequences' of compulsory microchip scanning and why the proposed measures 'won't work in practice'.

The association has written a template letter that calls on MPs to consider the issues surrounding compulsory microchipping ahead of its upcoming meeting with Defra minister Lord Goldsmith.

The call comes in response to a Defra consultation on proposals to make it compulsory for vets in England to scan and check the microchips of all patients and/or ahead of every euthanasia. The consultation was launched in response to a number of owner-led campaigns for compulsory scanning and runs until 17 February.

In the letter, BVA calls on MPs to support the BVA's position on compulsory scanning and to strongly oppose the proposals 'on animal welfare and public safety grounds'. It highlights the issues surrounding multiple microchipping databases, stressing that individual pets can be registered on multiple databases, which can lead to ownership disputes. 

The template letter asks vets to give examples where they might have spent time trying to trace an owner, or where an owner dispute might have put the safety of one party at risk. It also asks for examples of scenarios where vets already routinely scan animals, such as pets that are suspected to be stray or stolen, or when they are brought in for emergency treatment without their owner. 

BVA senior vice president, Daniella Dos Santos said: “We recommend that vets should scan for a microchip, where appropriate across a range of different scenarios. However we strongly oppose calls to make it compulsory. Making vets enforcement officers of any kind risks compromising trust between vets and owners and could deter some people from accessing vital care and treatment for their pets.

“Scanning in certain scenarios could also present a risk to the client, for example if someone fleeing domestic abuse has their details passed on to a former partner who registered the pet. It is for cases like this that we feel that the vet must be able to make a judgement call about what approach is best for the welfare of both the animal, and the owner.

“Out of date or incorrect information on microchipping databases is one of the most common reasons why vets are unable to reunite pets and owners. We encourage our members to advise clients on the importance of keeping microchip details up to date to aid reunification.”

The template is available to download from bva.co.uk for use by BVA members and the wider veterinary profession.