Hundreds of pets are killed every year on Scottish roads, and many of these incidents will not be logged. In this way, owners may never find out what happened to their beloved pet. This is because there is no law in place that says that domestic animals must be scanned for a microchip when found, dead or alive. Recently the UK Government announced that a Highways Agency policy making scanning compulsory would be introduced in England, but not in Scotland.
It will soon be compulsory to microchip dogs, but not to scan them if they are found dead or straying. If a pet is not scanned, it may never be identified, and its owner may spend time and money on a fruitless search. It can cause emotional heartbreak for the owner and their family.