Bruce Forsyth's VETS GET SCANNING APPEAL
CRUFTS 2008
My vet advised me about microchipping and as I am a ‘responsible dog owner,’ I microchipped both my dogs. When they were both stolen in 2006 I was confident that I would get them back very quickly. Wrong! I was told ‘Your dogs will probably be sold on for quick cash.’ The next bit of information I received was ‘Vets do not routinely scan new dogs at their practices and because of this you will not see your dogs again’.
“Having been through this harrowing experience first hand I am very aware of the loop holes that work against pet owners. This is why the Vets Get Scanning appeal was launched,” said Bruce Forsyth’s daughter Debbie Matthews, whose two dogs Widgett and Gizmo were stolen in May 2006. Both dogs were recovered due to a live TV appeal on GMTV.
Stolen microchipped dogs are not being found because vets set their own practice policies and they don’t believe that scanning is something that we dog owners expect! Even though the RCVS, BSAVA, the Kennel Club and Petlog all advise vets to routinely scan pets, they claim that they ‘do not have the time’ or that ‘Data Protection’ prevents them from passing on confidential client information.
Data protection is not a problem. If a vet has any concerns about the ownership of a dog he/she would contact a data controller. In the case of family pets this would be Petlog the Uk’s largest Pet Reunification Service for Microchipped pets managed by the Kennel Club.
The Petlog web pages explain in detail how vets can report their concerns and where necessary the Petlog team will take over further investigations. The vet need not be involved further. Surely clients would be reassured that their veterinary practice was taking this kind of action if necessary. Many dog owners have been surprised and alarmed to learn that routine scanning does not take place automatically. It is in everyone’s interest that microchipping works. The procedure is simple and can be carried out by a nurse when a new pet is registered with the practice.
Our full story and downloads to help promote the Vets Get Scanning Appeal are on www.VetsGetScanning.co.uk We have 10,000 signatures on our petition and a growing list of celebrity supporters but we still need the help of every dog owner to make this work. Please join us!
This year we will be attending Crufts 2008. We have been invited to join Petlog on their stand in Hall 2. We are very happy to join forces with this prestigious organisation and very grateful for the opportunity to reinforce this message and help vets to understand that the public want this service.
We will also be working beside and supporting Dog Theft Action. The three organisations work hand in hand to;
You will find us all at Crufts, NEC, Birmingham, on the Petlog Stand, Hall 2, Stand 8, from the 6th – 9th March 2008.
See you there or should we say ‘It would be nice to see you - to see you nice!’
Debbie Matthews
Vets Get Scanning will be joining the PetLog Reunification Service in Hall 2 Stand 4 at Crufts 2008 at the NEC Birmingham 6th – 9th March 2008.
www.vetsgetscanning.co.uk
www.petlog.org.uk
www.dogtheftaction.com
www.thekennelclub.org.uk