This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Vets to scan prior to euthanasia for Rescue Back up and confirm keeper details
A healthy young dog with RBU was euthanised. The person who requested euthanasia was not the registered keeper.
More details
Vets must be legally required to scan for rescue back up contact details on microchips and confirm the person presenting the animal is registered on the microchip. Rescue Back Up must be contacted and honoured
Tuks Law request vets:
Scan microchips prior to euthanising a healthy/treatable animal.
Confirm keeper details on original database of unknown animals presented for euthanasia.
Seek alternative options in non life threatening/non emergency situations.
If an unsubstantiated reason for euthanasia is made corroborating evidence is required.
On government endorsed databases a prefix is to be added to microchips to identify dual registration of rescue animals.
#TuksLaw
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Parliament debated this topic
This topic was debated on 28 June 2021
Government responded
This response was given on 7 May 2020
The Government understands the distress that the death of a pet can cause and is considering scanning requirements, as part of the Post Implementation Review of the microchipping regulations.
Read the response in full
We agree that no dog should be put down unless there are extenuating reasons for having to do so.
Paragraphs 8.9 and 8.10 of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Code of Conduct provides advice to vets on euthanizing animals when the owner is not present. A link to the RCVS’ Code of Conduct can be found here:
Every responsible dog owner wants to ensure their pet is safe and microchips are often the only hope of finding dogs that are lost or stolen. It is a legal requirement for all owners to microchip their dogs, and to enter the details onto a database. Since compulsory microchipping for dogs came into force in 2016, we have seen a clear drop in the number of stray dogs on the streets and an increase in the number of lost or stolen pets reunited with their owners.
British Veterinary Association (BVA) best practice is that vets should scan dogs on first presentation at their practice, and at other regular intervals including prior to euthanasia, where euthanasia is deemed the appropriate course of action by the veterinary expert. BVA’s website sets out their position on scanning:
https://www.bva.co.uk/News-campaigns-and-policy/Policy/Companion-animals/Microchipping/
The guidance includes advice on what a vet should do if the details of the person presenting the dog are different to what is recorded on the database, and what to do when stray or lost animals are brought to the practice by checking the microchipping databases in order to reunite the animal with their owner.
Although the Government considers that advice from BVA and RCVS provides veterinary professionals with helpful guidance on conducting appropriate scanning, the Government is considering proposals for the compulsory scanning of dogs before euthanasia by vets as part of the ongoing Post Implementation Review of The Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300025)
Related activity
Original Government response
Advice from BVA and RCVS provides vets with guidance on when to scan dogs and we will consider reform options as part of the Post Implementation Review of the microchipping regulations.
We agree that no dog should be put down unless there are extenuating reasons for having to do so.
Paragraphs 8.9 and 8.10 of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Code of Conduct provides advice to vets on euthanizing animals when the owner is not present. A link to the RCVS’ Code of Conduct can be found here:
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/euthanasia-of-animals/
Every responsible dog owner wants to ensure their pet is safe and microchips are often the only hope of finding dogs that are lost or stolen. It is a legal requirement for all owners to microchip their dogs, and to enter the details onto a database. Since compulsory microchipping for dogs came into force in 2016, we have seen a clear drop in the number of stray dogs on the streets and an increase in the number of lost or stolen pets reunited with their owners.
British Veterinary Association (BVA) best practice is that vets should scan dogs on first presentation at their practice, and at other regular intervals including prior to euthanasia, where euthanasia is deemed the appropriate course of action by the veterinary expert. BVA’s website sets out their position on scanning:
https://www.bva.co.uk/News-campaigns-and-policy/Policy/Companion-animals/Microchipping/
The guidance includes advice on what a vet should do if the details of the person presenting the dog are different to what is recorded on the database, and what to do when stray or lost animals are brought to the practice by checking the microchipping databases in order to reunite the animal with their owner.
The Government considers that advice from BVA and RCVS provides veterinary professionals with helpful guidance on conducting appropriate scanning and to protect the welfare of dogs. Ministers will continue to emphasise the importance of vets scanning pet animals when they are first presented to their surgery.
The Government is also considering proposals for the scanning of dogs by vets as part of the ongoing Post Implementation Review of The Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
This response was given on 23 March 2020. The Petitions Committee then requested a revised response, that more directly addressed the request of the petition.
Petitions Committee requests update from Government on work on microchipping of animals
The Chair of the Petitions Committee has written to the Government to ask for an update on its work on the microchipping of dogs and cats.
In its responses to two petitions about this issue, the Government talked about a Post Implementation Review of The Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015, and a consultation on cat microchipping. The letter asks for an update on the outcome of this work.
We'll let you know when we receive a response to this letter.
Read the full letter here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2350/documents/23125/default/
Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on our work on this issue and others: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions
Who is the Petitions Committee?
The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that looks at e-petitions submitted on petition.parliament.uk. The Committee is independent from Government.
You can find out more about the Petitions Committee and its work on our website: http://www.parliament.uk/petitions-committee/role
Government responds to request for an update on its work on microchipping pets
The Petitions Committee has today published a letter from George Eustice MP, Secretary of State of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This was in response to the Committee’s request for an update on the Government’s work on the microchipping of pets, and in particular the Post Implementation Review (PIR) of The Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015.
In response, the Secretary of State says that the Government hopes to complete the review by the end of this year, including a consultation on cat microchipping in the next three months.
You can read the response in full here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2678/documents/26592/default/
You can find the original letter to the Secretary of State here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2350/documents/23125/default/
Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on our work on this issue and others: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions
James Daly MP introduces proposed law on the scanning of animals
James Daly MP has introduced a proposed law in the House of Commons that would require vets to scan microchips for owner and rescue back-up details before euthanising a healthy animal, as called for in this petition.
The proposed law was introduced as a Private Members Bill under what is known as the 'ten minute rule'. The ten minute rule allows a backbench MP to make his or her case for a new Bill in a speech lasting up to ten minutes. An opposing speech may also be made before the House decides whether or not the Bill should be introduced. If the MP is successful the Bill is taken to have had its first reading.
The ten minute rule provides an opportunity for an MP who is not a Government Minister to make the case for a new law, or a change to an existing one, in the hope of building support from other MPs across the House of Commons.
Watch: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/0009adeb-326b-4d99-bb7c-53719ca09d61?in=14:43:49&out=14:53:25
Find out more about Private Members Bills: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/bills/private-members/
Share your views on Cat and Dog Microchipping and Scanning in England
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on Cat and Dog Microchipping and Scanning in England. They want to know what you think about plans to introduce compulsory cat microchipping in England and how you think this should be implemented.
They also want to know whether you think vets and other bodies should be required to scan cats and dogs for microchips in certain situations. For example, prior to euthanasia.
You can find out more about the consultation and contribute here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/companion-animals-team/cat-and-dog-microchipping-and-scanning-in-england/
The consultation closes at 5.00pm on 17 February 2021.
When will this petition be debated?
The Petitions Committee is currently unable to schedule its usual debates on petitions that have received over 100,000 signatures, because of the closure of Westminster Hall, where petitions debates normally take place. We will let you know as soon as a debate on this petition has been scheduled.
Government consultation on Cat and Dog Microchipping and Scanning in England - corrected link
Yesterday we sent a message about Defra's consultation on Cat and Dog Microchipping and Scanning in England. Some petitioners have reported a problem in accessing the consultation through the link. We're very sorry about this. Please use this link if you'd like to share your views and haven't been able to access it: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/companion-animals-team/cat-and-dog-microchipping-and-scanning-in-england/
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched this consultation on Cat and Dog Microchipping and Scanning in England to find out what you think about plans to introduce compulsory cat microchipping in England and how you think this should be implemented.
They also want to know whether you think vets and other bodies should be required to scan cats and dogs for microchips in certain situations. For example, prior to euthanasia.
The consultation closes at 5.00pm on 17 February 2021.
Government publishes the results of its consultation on cat and dog microchipping and scanning
On 4 December, the Government published a summary of the responses to its consultation on cat and dog microchipping and scanning. The Government has also published its response, setting out a series of actions it plans to take on this issue.
Read the summary of consultation responses: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cat-and-dog-microchipping-and-scanning-in-england/outcome/summary-of-responses-and-government-response
In their response to the consultation, the Government confirms that it plans to introduce compulsory cat microchipping. The Government also says it is reviewing the database system to identify practical measures which could improve its operation, and will publicly consult on improvements to the existing microchipping system, including the operation of databases, before introducing secondary legislation covering both cats and dogs.
The response also states that the Government is working with the veterinary profession and the Tuk’s Law campaign to monitor the effectiveness of requirements relating to scanning prior to euthanasia, as set out in the updated RCVS’ Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons.
Read the Government's response: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cat-and-dog-microchipping-and-scanning-in-england/outcome/summary-of-responses-and-government-response#part-2-government-response