Other Pets: Roaming tortoise finds her way home (slowly)

Sioux the tortoise worried her owners when she ambled off from the garden. They were used to her going for a daily 'run' not too far from the house, but on August 7th, she didn't come back.

Having escaped from the garden of her Bellington, Chesham home, Sioux was the subject of a painstaking search by owners Alan and Brenda Thomas, but to no avail. Luckily she was found by a motorist around half a mile (and two fields) away from home.

It was just as well he read the village magazine, because that's how he realised Sioux was a beloved pet and would be missed! She's now safely - and securely - back where she belongs.

[via PetPlanet News]

Microchipping: the Kennel Club urges the public to update their Petlog information

The UK Kennel Club's Petlog is the largest reunification scheme in the country, and it supports the details of 3.5 million pet owners, with 40,000 joining a month.

Having handled over 89,000 calls in 2007, the service is responsible for helping thousands of owners be reunited with their lost or stolen dogs. Unfortunately, some of these reunions are made far more difficult by the fact that pet owners move house and forget to update their details. Sometimes a dog changes hands and the new owners also fail to

It is vitally important that there is always a current, working telephone number at which you can be contacted on Petlog's database. It could be the difference between getting your dog back or having him processed as a stray by the Local Authority. When apparent strays are not claimed within the week, the LA has the choice of handing them on to a rehoming charity but some are ultimately humanely euthanised.

Microchipping can help prevent a lot of heartbreak and an unncessarily lengthy stay in the kennels for your dog. Since a microchip is embedded in the skin, it cannot fall or be taken off like the statutory collar and tag.

All dogs that pass through Dogs Trust's care are microchipped. It costs around £20-30 at a vets, but some of our Rehoming Centres offer the service at a reduced price. Just give your local centre a call to find out more.

If you've moved home recently and haven't yet updated your microchip details, you can update your records online. To record a Change of Ownership, just call Petlog on 0870 606 6751 for assistance.

Dogs Trust lost dog appeal: have you seen Jasmine the Staffy?

Dog owners in the Mitcham area and across the country are being reminded that dogs can be lost and stolen all too easily. Two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Jasmine (pictured), went missing from her enclosed back garden in Mitcham on Sunday, the possible victim of a dog theft.

Neutered and microchipped, young Jasmine appears to have been the latest in a string of recent dog thefts in the area.

All too often, Dogs Trust hears of pedigree and crossbred dogs being stolen for ransom, breeding, hunting, selling on to unsuspecting members of the public, or, worst of all, for use by dog fighting rings. Prevention is definitely better than cure, as getting your dog back is very difficult.

Five tips for ensuring your dog's safety:

• Microchip your dog, remembering to update your contact details every time they change.
• Make sure your dog is wearing a collar and tag with your name, address and phone number (not his / her name, as it can make them more likely to trust a stranger). A collar and ID tag is a legal requirement.
• If your dog is neutered, consider stating this on a tag attached to their collar. This might put off certain types of thief, especially if they're a pedigree.
• Never leave a dog unattended outside a shop, in a parked car or in an unobserved garden.
• Immediately report stolen dogs to the police and local dog warden.

If you have seen Jasmine or have any information on her whereabouts please contact Megan on 07852 345731 or 07834 049773 anytime. Confidentiality guaranteed.

National Microchipping Month: have you microchipped your pet yet?

One in three lost dog reunions happens thanks to microchips.

In a call-to-action marking the beginning of National Microchipping Month (June 1-30), Dogs Trust is urging those owners who have not microchipped their dog to make it their number one priority.

A tiny chip coded with a unique reference number is implanted via injection just under the skin between the shoulder blades. A hand-held scanner held over the area can identify the number which corresponds to a database of owner contact details.

As painless and brief as a normal jab, this procedure now accounts for 32% of dogs being reunited with their owners, a massive rise from 7% in 1999. Microchipping overtook the ID disc in effectiveness five years ago!*

This only represents a proportion of the lost dogs that were returned home, and does not reflect the overall numbers of strays in the UK. According to the last survey the total number has, sadly, increased.

Dogs Trust Chief Executive Clarissa Baldwin comments:

“Of the hundreds of stray dogs that come to our centres, it is heartbreaking to think that many once had loving homes.

“More and more dog owners are aware that microchipping is the most effective and proactive means of ensuring a lost pooch will be returned.

“If you haven’t had your pet microchipped, make this the month to do it. Dogs go missing all the time, for all sorts of reasons, and microchipping is by far the best precaution you can take to ensure your furry friend doesn’t end up on the streets, or even being put to sleep.”

Owners can expect to pay £20-£30 for microchipping at their local vets’ or £10 at our 17 Dogs Trust Rehoming Centres. You can find your nearest Centre by calling us on 020 8837 0006 or visiting www.dogstrust.org.uk.

All dogs adopted from our Centres are microchipped, neutered, vaccinated and health-checked before being released to their new owners.

*Please note that a collar and ID tag are required for dogs out in public under UK law.