An independent retailer in Devon has launched a campaign to provide cat owners with free microchips before the June deadline.
Sammie Hunt, who runs Redpaw Pet Supplies in Plymouth, has joined forces with local clinic Devon K9 to offer heavily-discounted drop-in microchipping clinics, where cat owners can have their pets microchipped for just £5, around a quarter of the price offered by some establishments. However, Sammie is seeking crowdfunding through the Just Giving platform in order to offer the service to low-income families for free, and has set a target of £500.
She said: “We know some owners cannot afford this small charge, so we would like to be able to offer the microchipping for free, but we need help. We would like to appeal to people and businesses around the West Country to donate to our Just Giving crowdfunding campaign so we can provide support for cat owners on low incomes to be able to have a free microchip implemented into the dearly loved cat.
“For every £5 donation we receive we can microchip one cat.”
The law states that, from June 10, 2024, all owners must have their cat microchipped or face a fine of up to £500. It is estimated that more than two million cats in the UK are yet to be chipped.
The retailer’s next drop-in clinic is on May 15. To contribute to the crowdfunding campaign, visit here.
