THERE’S nothing worse for a pet owner than having a much-loved pet go missing. Whether it’s a dog who wanders off or a cat who simply fails to show up after the usual time outside, not knowing what’s happened can be a real agony.

There are, of course, various traditional ways of identifying pets. Dogs, for example, should always wear a collar with an ID tag.

But collars can come off (or be taken off) and cat collars carry a real risk of strangulation if they get caught in something. Ear tattoos used to be popular but can be quite painful for the pet.

Modern technology now has the answer - an ID microchip which can be implanted under the pet’s skin. These little devices, which can be used in anything from a tortoise to a horse, will show up an ID number when a special scanner is passed over the skin.

Most vets, animal charities, police forces and dog wardens now have these scanners.

For about the same cost as vaccination and just as easily done (no need for anaesthetic), vets can now implant your pet. Microchip numbers are recorded on a national register, making it relatively easy to trace a microchipped pet and to prove who the owner is in case of disputes.

It’s too late to think of microchipping once a pet has gone, so why not contact your vet now and arrange to get real peace of mind ?