Cornwall Council is holding another series of free dog microchipping events this March.

Dogs Trust is providing a team of roaming vet nurses who will microchip dogs free of charge, with the events following the success of a series of events last year when almost 1,000 dogs were microchipped in just one week, From 2016 it will be a legal requirement to have your dog microchipped, which normally costs up to £20.

Cornwall Council dog welfare and enforcement officers will be at the events to offer any advice or if people wish to discuss any dog issues.

The events will be held at Malpas Car Park, Truro, from 9am – 5pm, Wednesday March 26, alongside Falmouth Fire Station from 2pm to 5pm and the Penzance council office car park from 9am to 1pm on Thursday March 27.

Cornwall Council’s head of public health and protection Allan Hampshire said: “We need dog owners to be responsible for their pets and this latest drive to get dogs microchipped will give owners the reassurance that should their pet become lost or be stolen, he or she is more likely to be returned to them safe and sound.

“Local authorities and vets will have scanners so that any dog that is found straying or reported for dangerous behaviour can then be traced back to the owner. If the authorities come across a dog after 2016 that does not have a microchip, the owner will be required to have it chipped urgently or face a fine.”

Lee Paris from Dogs Trust said: “While at Dogs Trust we never put a healthy dog to sleep, our rehoming centres are very stretched so we constantly need to reach out to dog owners to help them get their dogs microchipped and neutered to help prevent the scores of stray and unwanted dogs we take in every year.”