The following organisations have joined together to form the Microchipping Alliance – the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, British Veterinary Association, Blue Cross, Cats Protection, Communication Workers Union, Dog Theft Action, Dogs Trust, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Kennel Club, PDSA, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, RSPCA, Vets Get Scanning and Wood Green Animal Shelter As part of National Microchipping Month this June, we are calling on the Government to introduce compulsory microchipping for all dogs in the UK.

Microchipping is the most effective way of ensuring lost dogs are returned to their owners. However, of the 8.2 million pet dogs currently in the UK, more than a third remain unidentifiable.

In 2010 local authorities took in more than 121,000 stray dogs. Dealing with these dogs cost an estimated £2.9 million of taxpayer money.

If more dogs were microchipped, more could be returned to their owners and the cost to local authorities should be vastly reduced.

Of those dogs taken in by local authorities last year, 6,404 were put to sleep. Compulsory microchipping would also mean fewer dogs lose their lives unnecessarily. We consider that the time is right for the Government to make permanent identification mandatory and urge ministers to recognise the importance of this issue.

Clarissa Baldwin, Chief executive of Dogs Trust and chair of Microchipping Alliance, 17 Wakley Street, London.