The majority of cats and dogs that came into the care of the RSPCA between 2005 and 2009 did not have a microchip.
In 2005 just 14 per cent of dogs and 17 per cent of cats that entered the RSPCA were microchipped. Five years later these percentages had risen to 32 per cent and 27 per cent respectively.
Since 2005 the number of owned dogs and cats microchipped by the RSPCA has also dramatically increased from 13,025 to 33,913.
Between 2005 and 2009 the total number of cats and dogs registered on microchipping databases increased by nearly a third but there was a large difference in the numbers of cats and dogs; over half a million dogs were registered compared to around 330,000 cats.
There is still more that can be done to promote responsible pet ownership and encourage owners to see microchipping as part of this.
Number of microchipped and non-microchipped cats and dogs entering the RSPCA
For more information, read the 'microchipping' animal welfare indicator
