10 week old puppy with a German microchip

RE: 10 week old puppy with a German microchip

Bob Russell — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 11:11:12 GMT

It is likely that the local trading standards already know that there are puppies being traded. The more they know the better the chance of successful prosecution.

Any single puppy may not change the world but it makes it a more difficult environment for these people to operate in.

RE: 10 week old puppy with a German microchip

Sarah Keir — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 11:40:05 GMT

It is only a matter of time before a case of rabies finds its way in to the country. I don't want to be responsible for it happening on my watch.

A few years ago the dog warden left a litter of puppies at the practice I was working in for treatment including hospitalization. It turns out these were seized dogs which were suspected to have come from Ireland but seeing as how none had microchips and no-one could tell me for certainty that they were not a rabies risk because they didn't no for certain they were from Ireland, they only suspected they did, I took the cautious approach. The practice wasn't happy.

RE: 10 week old puppy with a German microchip

Clive Ansell — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 17:26:33 GMT

[quote userid="9239" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29543/10-week-old-puppy-with-a-german-microchip/227222#227222"]Unfortunately by the time police gains right of entry on their property those puppies/dogs will be moved around and nothing will be found. [/quote]

That may or may not be the case, but I still think we should report possible criminal or illegal activity to the relevant authority. I shall continue to do so.

Hands up who wants to be the vet that didn't spot or report the illegally imported puppy that eventual brings rabies in to the UK. Hypothetical scenario, and never happens I hope. It remains a scary possibility though.

RE: 10 week old puppy with a German microchip

Dinu Catilina — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 17:10:26 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29543/10-week-old-puppy-with-a-german-microchip/227216#227216"]

Has it? what if there are many other puppies from the same breeder, puppy farm, or importer? who's going to look out for and take care of them?

[/quote]

Unfortunately by the time police gains right of entry on their property those puppies/dogs will be moved around and nothing will be found.

RE: 10 week old puppy with a German microchip

janine redman — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 21:55:27 GMT

Yes , and they have said the chip was never registered

RE: 10 week old puppy with a German microchip

Clive Ansell — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 17:43:20 GMT

[quote userid="9239" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29543/10-week-old-puppy-with-a-german-microchip/227215#227215"]The puppy is at the vets so welfare issue has been resolved.[/quote]

Has it? what if there are many other puppies from the same breeder, puppy farm, or importer? who's going to look out for and take care of them?

[quote userid=""]The puppy is at the vets with the owner not breeder, issue easily resolvable with registering the microchip[/quote]

I'm sure it's not a threat to national security, but it is still illegal activity, however minor or trivial it may seem. Puppies should be microchipped by and registered to the breeder. It is a legal and non negotiable requirement.

The puppy mentioned in the OP is of poor condition, and has a foreign unregistered microchip - if that doesn't ring alarm bells for possible illegal importation, then I don't know what would.

RE: 10 week old puppy with a German microchip

Dinu Catilina — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 17:01:59 GMT

I do agree with Michael. There are so many things we can report in our work, what else, call RSPCA for every old dog presented for PTS 6 months later than it should?

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29543/10-week-old-puppy-with-a-german-microchip/227210#227210"]

1. The puppy is scrawny and pot bellied - so primarily a possible welfare issue, bad breeder, puppy farm ??

[/quote]

The puppy is at the vets so welfare issue has been resolved.

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29543/10-week-old-puppy-with-a-german-microchip/227210#227210"] It has an unregistered microchip, which is illegal.[/quote]

The puppy is at the vets with the owner not breeder, issue easily resolvable with registering the microchip (16 quid) or introducing another one.

If we act as police then people will be pushed in the arms of fertility clinics who will import illegal vaccines and how will this improve the future welfare of these dogs?

RE: 10 week old puppy with a German microchip

Clive Ansell — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 12:07:09 GMT

[quote userid="3169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29543/10-week-old-puppy-with-a-german-microchip/227202#227202"]Treat it like any other new puppy and get on with life? It's not the puppies fault. It's not the new owners fault. It's not your responsibility to police this.[/quote]

I don't agree.

I think if there is a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, it should be reported to the relevant authority. They can then decide if it is illegal, and pursue it as they feel fit. We should be duty bound to do this.

The case in the OP is an example of that; the puppy may well be UK bred and the chip imported, I don't know, but it should be microchipped and that chip registered to the breeder. Not legal and needs reporting.

I don't think I would spend much of my time tracing where a chip was registered. The puppy in the OP has a chip that is unregistered which is illegal - maybe DEFRA or Trading standards can follow it up.

[quote userid="9440" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29543/10-week-old-puppy-with-a-german-microchip"]I am loathe to do something similar with very little real evidence [/quote]

But you do have evidence.

1. The puppy is scrawny and pot bellied - so primarily a possible welfare issue, bad breeder, puppy farm ??

2. It has an unregistered microchip, which is illegal.

RE: 10 week old puppy with a German microchip

Bob Russell — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 09:53:02 GMT

There are people out there in scores offering dirt cheap microchipping services. The databases are next to useless but it is legal.

Possibly a cheapskate breeder has found a source of chips on-line.

Sorry I do not agree with the get on with life attitude. These need to be reported. It may be that little action results of course.

There are puppies coming in from Eastern Europe including Russia. The disease risk is not insignificant and the welfare aspects don't bear thinking about.

Nothing will be done to stop this while people look the other way.

RE: 10 week old puppy with a German microchip

Sammy82 — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 00:14:44 GMT

Have you tried to find out if the chip is registered in Germany or elsewhere? I believe Tasso is the biggest German database, or you can try http://www.petmaxx.com/ to find out if it is registered anywhere. If the chip isn't registered I suppose there is no way to know if it was imported to the UK before or after being put into the puppy. I am happy to help with the translation of any German emails as I am German but have been living in the UK for 12 years now.

RE: 10 week old puppy with a German microchip

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 23:30:47 GMT

[quote userid="9440" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29543/10-week-old-puppy-with-a-german-microchip"]what would you do ?[/quote]

Treat it like any other new puppy and get on with life? It's not the puppies fault. It's not the new owners fault. It's not your responsibility to police this.

I think a vet practice should be a 'safe' place. I don't want people being frightened of seeking vet attention that we are itching to report people and operate outside our remit.

(I have similar feelings where an animal is presented and should have been seen sooner - it's at the vets now and that's what matters)

Sometimes I think it's better not to ask too many questions.