Closed consultation

Microchips in pets: scanning prior to euthanasia

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 17 October 2025
• Last updated: 7 May 2026 — See all updates

We are analysing your feedback

Visit this page again soon to download the outcome to this public feedback.

Detail of feedback received

We received 643 responses to this consultation. We are carrying out analysis of the results and we plan to publish the findings in summer 2026.

Summary

Seeking your views on scanning microchips in dogs and cats prior to euthanasia.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
9:30am on 17 October 2025 to 11:45pm on 10 February 2026

Consultation description

The scanning of microchips in dogs prior to euthanasia process has been in place since 2021. In 2025, the RCVS also added these requirements to the euthanasia of cats.

We would now like to seek your views on this process after 4 years.

Published 17 October 2025

Last updated 7 May 2026 + show all updates

1. 7 May 2026

   Updated to reflect that we are analysing the results of this consultation and we plan to publish the findings in summer 2026.

2. 17 October 2025

   First published.