MORE than 20 per cent of dogs admitted to a North Yorkshire animal rehoming centre could be lost family pets, its management has warned.
Blue Cross in Topcliffe, Thirsk, is joining the campaign urging dog owners to get their animals microchipped.
It says that more than one in five of the dogs admitted as "strays" found wandering the streets or passed on from dog pounds were not microchipped and therefore could not be identified and reunited with their families.
Actress Sheridan Smith backed the call saying: "It is the best way councils and rescue charities can contact you if a pet ends up in their care. Without a microchip it can be virtually impossible to be reunited with your pet and many end up having to find new homes.”
From April 6, all dog owners will have to have their pets microchipped by law.
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