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Shep is safer after chipping

ANIMAL lover Norma Dunn took time out from her shopping trip to give her pet dog Shep a gift to ensure he will never go astray.

Norma, of Moston, and Shep visited the national Canine Defence League roadshow in Harpurhey District Centre which was offering on-the-spot pet microchipping.

The initiative was part of the league's Give a Dog a Life campaign to raise awareness of responsible dog ownership and encourage people to have their pets microchipped.

The procedure is a permanent form of identification for dogs and means that, should the pet ever stray, it can be reunited quickly and easily with its owners.

A chip - the size of a grain of rice - containing details of the dog's owner's name and address is inserted into the loose skin at the back of the dog's neck and can be read using a hand-held scanner.

Norma and Shep are pictured with Stuart Booth, of the National Canine Defence League and Manchester's Lord Mayor Cllr Hugh Barrett.