NATIONAL Canine Defence League officials say they are very pleased with the response to their travelling roadshow in Selby. NCDL press officer Deana Selby said 33 dogs had been microchipped at a special discount fee of £9.50 in the first two days.

The roadshow, which is in Selby Market Place until 4pm tomorrow, is part of NCDL's Give a Dog a Life campaign, aimed at reducing the number of stray and abandoned dogs.

Since the pilot scheme was launched in the North East just over a year ago, over 10,000 dogs have been microchipped.

It proved such a big success the scheme has now been extended into Selby and other parts of North Yorkshire.

Deana Selby said: Microchipping is a permanent way of identifying your dog and takes just seconds. There is a huge number of stray dogs put to sleep every year not because of health problems but because they haven't got a home. If a microchipped dog does get lost and is found, it means it can be returned to its owner quickly instead of possibly being destroyed.

"It literally can mean the difference between life and death."

The roadshow will also be offering advice on neutering, and can supply owners with names of vets who offer subsidised neutering to people on means-tested benefits.