Virbac has announced that from the 1st February 2018, BackHome microchips will include free online transfer of keepership from breeders to new puppy owners.

The introduction of the compulsory microchipping law in April 2016 has meant that puppies have to be microchipped by 8 weeks of age and the breeder has to be recorded as the first keeper. This has, up to now, incurred further and often unexpected costs for new puppy owners or breeders who have had to pay an additional fee for the transfer of keepership.

From 1^st February practices using BackHome microchips will register their newly implanted microchips with the UK based reunification database, PETtrac, and the online transfer of keepership from breeders to new owners will be free. A postal transfer will cost 50p.

BackHome Product Manager Madeline Haynes said: "We have listened to feedback from the veterinary profession who have stressed the importance of not only providing a fast and reliable service from a pet reunification database, but also the need for free transfer of keepership from a breeder to a new owner.

"We are delighted to have been able to facilitate this through the move to PETtrac."

PETtrac is a UK based, DEFRA compliant reunification database that offers 24/7 customer service, 365 days of the year.  

The move to PETtrac will not affect pets already registered with BackHome Microchips, whose lifelong registration with previous database supplier PetLog remains unchanged. 

For more information, visit: www.virbac.co.uk    

*Postal transfer of keepership from breeder to new owner will cost 0.50p

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