The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, one of the biggest charity organizations in animal-loving Britain, has declared April 24 National Microchipping Day. To keep better track of Britain’s stray cats and dogs, rabbits and even goldfish, the RSPCA wants owners to have their pets microchipped, an apparently painless process whereby chips are embedded in any conveniently fleshy part of their animal. Some 700,000 British pets have already been microchipped, and their medical and ownership details entered on a national database. The RSPCA says the scheme will help return lost animals to their owners, combat theft, and provide a means of tracking pet epidemics. It may also become a feature of European plans to establish a passport system for pets.
