THE UK’s largest dog welfare charity welcomed local AM Paul Davies to one of its free microchipping events on Thursday, June 5.

The event, held at Oriel y Parc in St Davids, was a great success, with local residents lining up with their four-legged friends to take advantage of the free microchipping service on offer from the Dogs Trust.

A number of local dogs were chipped on the day while Dogs Trust representatives were on hand to offer advice and answer any general queries about responsible dog ownership. They also reminded 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 re-uniting stray dogs with their owners, deterring dog theft and as a measure to reduce puppy farming.

Mr Davies AM said: “I was delighted to be invited to attend this microchipping event in St Davids. 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.”