We work closely with the Government’s dog warden service, and stray dogs are brought to our kennels for safekeeping until their owners can be located.

Over the last few weeks we have seen a larger number of stray dogs than usual.

This may be linked to the hot weather and the fact that dogs are spending more time outside in their owners’ gardens or back yards.

Given enough incentive (a passing cat, or another dog) many dogs can scale even the most ’dog-proof’ fencing and walls and make their escape.

An added problem is that people visiting a dog-owner’s home (a post or delivery person, someone coming to read a meter, or deliver a newspaper) may not be aware that there is a dog on the property, and they may not leave a garden gate properly secured when they leave. Investing in a ’Please keep gate closed’ sign may be worth considering.

If a stray dog is microchipped we can reunite him or her with their registered owner straight away, provided the contact details are up-to-date on the relevant microchip company’s database.

period of grace

We are currently in a six month ’period of grace’ in between the discontinuation of dog licences and the compulsory microchipping of all dogs over the age of eight weeks.

The law changed on 1st April but it will not be enforced until 1st October.

After this date, the owner of any dog which is found not to be microchipped is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of up to £500.

The ManxSPCA will be holding microchipping days in August and September, when owners can bring their pets along for discounted microchipping, and we will publicise dates in due course.

Meanwhile, you can find out more about microchipping by coming to visit us at this week-end’s Southern Agricultural Show.

On our stand we will have microchips and microchip applicators for you to inspect at first hand, along with a chip reader and information about the various databases.

We will also be able to reassure you about the procedure, which causes no more discomfort to an animal than a standard vaccination.

A dog should always be under the control of its owner, but GPS canine trackers linked to mobile phone apps are becoming more popular and are useful for owners who worry that their dogs may stray.

The trackers give an owner real-time information about their dog’s whereabouts and they can also track where the dog has been.

Tracker technology is so advanced now that the devices themselves are tiny and can easily fit onto a cat’s collar - they are also relatively inexpensive.

A tracker could be the answer for those cat owners who wonder where their pets wander every night, and how far they travel.

The results are often surprising, and show that an errant moggie can roam far and wide or, conversely, that they spend a disproportionate amount of time at a neighbour’s address (and one can assume that said neighbour is feeding them!).

APOC APPEAL

Apoc would like to be given the opportunity to wander at night.

This handsome eight-year-old Manx cat has spent the last four months in one of our socialisation rooms, and although he has lots of space and home comforts he doesn’t have his freedom.

He’s our longest-term resident in the cattery and we’re not sure why, other than that it’s because Apoc is wary of new people and he takes time to come out of his shell.

He is adorable, though, and would suit anyone who is happy to have just the one cat (he doesn’t like other cats).

Please come and sit on the sofa with him for cat cuddles any day, apart from Thursdays, between 1pm and 4pm.