Dog breeders are to be required by law to have a microchip inserted in every puppy within seven weeks of their birth, ministers agreed on Friday.

The chip will include the owner’s name and address which will be stored in a data bank, according to a cabinet statement.
The aim of the plan is to try to eradicate problems in the dog breeding industry and identify the owners of dogs which have been abandoned or neglected.
Some 70% of dogs are now given a chip on a voluntary basis. The measure is likely to be implemented from 2013.

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