Scan an animal to locate a microchip

1. work professionally and ethically and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence, experience and in accordance with current legislation

2. carry out your work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, associated codes of practice and organisational policies

3. carry out your work in accordance with the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies

4. maintain hygiene and biosecurity in accordance with workplace instructions, organisational practice and the relevant legislation

5. select, prepare, use and maintain equipment following the relevant legislation, manufacturers’ guidelines and organisational policy

6. observe and recognise the behaviour of the animal prior to scanning for a microchip

7. handle and restrain the animal in a safe and secure way to allow for scanning

8. scan the animal using the relevant procedure for the type of scanner to locate the possible presence of a microchip

9. check the data on the relevant database or other documentation where a microchip is detected

10. use the back-track system to identify who implanted the chip where a chip is not listed on a database

11. take action where details on the database cannot be verified

1.  

2. your professional responsibilities when scanning an animal to locate a microchip and the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience

3. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies

4. your responsibilities under the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies

5. the importance of maintaining hygiene and biosecurity and the methods for achieving this

6. how to use the scanner to scan an animal, the limitations of the scanner, and how to check, prepare and maintain it

7. the types of scanners currently on the market

8. the environmental constraints of using a scanner including the external factors that can affect the reading of a microchip such as metal collars, or proximity to computer screens

9. the different types of microchips in circulation

10. the different databases where details are registered and how to use them

11. how to recognise the behaviour of the animal including signs of avoidance, pain, aggression, fear and distress

12. how to handle and restrain the animal safely to enable scanning and how to recognise when assistance may be required

13. the correct implantation site for the species you are working with

14. the animal anatomy and physiology relevant to the possible location of microchips that have migrated

15. how to scan the animal to locate the presence of a microchip

16. the importance of checking and cross-checking the accuracy of the microchip number

17. how to use the back-track system

18. the action to take if a foreign microchip is found and the implications to the animal and society when foreign microchips cannot be verified

19. the action to take if ownership of the animal cannot be verified

Current animal welfare legislation:

• Veterinary Surgeons Act

• England and Wales, Animal Welfare Act

• Scotland, Animal Health and Welfare Act

• Northern Ireland, Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland)

• Microchipping of dogs

• Working Dog – tail docking legislation

• Dangerous Dog – Dog exemption

• Pet Travel Scheme