Government says all dogs in England must be fitted with microchips by 2016

By Raphael Satter, The Associated Press 

LONDON - Dog owners who refuse to fit Fido with a microchip may someday find themselves fetching a hefty fine, the British government said Wednesday.

All dogs in England will have to be fitted with microchips by 2016, authorities said, meaning that canines across the country will be chasing cars with a tiny circuit embedded in the back of their necks.

Britain's Environment Department said that the chips would help reunite owners with lost or stolen pets, promote animal welfare and take the pressure off animal shelters.

"It's a shame that in a nation of dog lovers, thousands of dogs are roaming the streets or stuck in kennels because the owner cannot be tracked down," Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said in a statement. "Microchipping is a simple solution that gives peace of mind to owners."

Many British pet owners already have veterinarians insert chips under the skin of dogs, cats, and rabbits in a bid to keep track of their animals. The Environment Department says 60 per cent of Britain's 8 million pet dogs already have microchips, which can be scanned and matched to their owners' details.

But officials say what was once an optional extra will become mandatory in three years. Owners who refuse to fit their dogs with chips face fines of up to 500 pounds ($800).

Continued:  http://news.yahoo.com/government-says-dogs-england-must-fitted-microchips-2016-211645407.html;_ylt=AqBk7p6aTIklQ05ckSlSlZt4hMgF;_ylu=X3oDMTRhMmZ1OG9vBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YgQW5pbWFsUGV0c1NTRgRwa2cDMzliNGRjZmItNjc2MS0zZTNjLWI1MmEtN2MwMzZkOTk2NjI5BHBvcwM5BHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzhmMjBmMWQwLTcwYTItMTFlMi1iZThmLWMzNGQ3ODM1MGI0Yw--;_ylg=X3oDMTJrdW92Y2FmBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlfGFuaW1hbHNhbmRwZXRzBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QDUUVfQ29udHJvbA--;_ylv=3

National Wildlife Crime Unit under threat for the price of 83 duck houses

114 MPs sign early day motion to preserve National Wildlife Crime Unit

January 2013. Just weeks after a report revealed that the international trade in illegal wildlife products has reached $19 million per year, and that the trade strengthens criminal networks, undermines national security, and poses increasing risks to global health, besides driving many endangered species towards extinction, the British Government is refusing to commit to providing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

Paltry amount required
The unit employs just 10 people and receives a tiny £136,000 annually from the Home Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), but the funding has not yet been agreed. The current funding expires on 31st March and without the funding from DEFRA the unit will almost certainly close.

The National Wildlife Crime Unit was launched in 2006; the NWCU is a multi-agency police-led unit, set up to target and disrupt serious wildlife crime on a regional, national and international level.

Lack of support from Conservatives
Of 114 MPs that signed the early day motion, just 4 were from the Conservative Party, the party whose policy states "The Government believes that we need to protect the environment for future generations, make our economy more environmentally sustainable, and improve our quality of life and well-being. We also believe that much more needs to be done to support the farming industry, protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable food production."

Click here to see which MPs have supported the motion.

With the current levels of wildlife crime reported from around the world, and with the UK paying an increasing part as a destination for illegal wildlife products, not to mention domestic wildlife crime, and for the sake of 83 duck houses so beloved by Tory MPs, what possible reason is there for not funding this unit?

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/national-wildlife-crime-funding.html