WITH less than a year to go until microchipping becomes compulsory, the majority of North-East vets estimate that at least a quarter of dogs are still not chipped.

Figures released by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) show that there is still work to be done to get the microchipping message out to owners and encourage them to act before the law changes in Spring 2016.

Their report revealed that 83 per cent of North-East vets, and 94 per cent of Yorkshire and Humber vets, estimate that a quarter of dogs will still not have a microchip by the time the new law comes into effect.

Practising vet and BVA President John Blackwell said: “As a member of the Microchipping Alliance, BVA pushed hard for compulsory microchipping of all dogs and we are very pleased that microchipping will be mandatory in every country in the UK by Spring 2016.

"But with the vast majority of vets estimating that a quarter of dogs are unchipped there is no room for complacency."