Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity was delighted to be able to welcome Paul Davies AM to a microchipping event in his local area on Thursday 5th June.

The event, held at Oriel –y– Parc, St David's, Pembrokeshire was a great success, with local residents encouraged to bring their four legged friends along to take advantage of the free microchipping service on offer. A number of local dogs were chipped on the day while Dogs Trust representatives were also on hand to offer advice and answer any general queries about responsible dog ownership, reminding dog owners of the importance of keeping their microchip database details up to date.

With microchipping set to become compulsory for all dogs in Wales in April 2015, roving teams of Dogs Trust representatives are touring the country in a bid to help promote responsible dog ownership and educate the public on the benefits of compulsory microchipping. Paul Davies AM was able to talk with constituents and discuss their views on the issue while learning just how vital compulsory microchipping is in reuniting stray dogs with their owners, deterring dog theft and as a measure to reduce puppy farming.

Commenting on the event, Paul Davies AM said:

"I was delighted to be invited to attend this microchipping event in St David's. It was a wonderful opportunity to see the work of Dogs Trust first hand and to learn just how significant microchipping can be in helping return lost or stray dogs to their owners. I support the work of Dogs Trust and believe that compulsory microchipping is a major step forward in dog welfare, not least for the part it will play in reducing the stray dog population in years to come. I urge local dog owners to take advantage of this simple and effective tool before it becomes compulsory."

Dogs Trust is the UK's largest dog welfare charity. We have eighteen rehoming centres across the UK and one in Ireland, and invest substantial resources in information services and education on responsible dog ownership.