Longford Gardai stage special dog microchipping checkpoints after reports of numerous pet thefts

Gardaí in Longford carried put checkpoints in the county town yesterday as part of a response to a nationwide spike in dog thefts.

The checkpoints involved the scanning of dogs for microchips.

Gardaí say they majority of the animals scanned were found to have been microchipped and properly registered.

They are reminding the public that all dogs must be microchipped and registered on a recognised database.

It is also illegal to pass on a dog even without payment, to another person unless the animal is microchipped.

Fines of up to €5,000 euro are applicable for breaches of the laws.

Longford gardai say these checkpoints will be ongoing in relation to monitoring and checking the ownership and registration of dogs.