The "Petchip Network" is being flagged as a likely scam ...
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The "Petchip Network" is being flagged as a likely scam in the UK due to misleading advertising practices.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) found that ads for Petchip.Network falsely implied it was an official or approved database for registering microchipped pets, leading consumers to believe they had met legal requirements by using their service. In reality, Petchip.Network charged a fee for registration and made pet owner information accessible to anyone who searched by microchip number. It was not an approved database and was not listed as such on the GOV.UK website.

Key points about the scam:
Misleading Claims:
The ads suggested Petchip.Network was an official or approved database for registering pet microchips, which is not true.

Unnecessary Fees:
Petchip.Network charged a fee for registration, which is not required by the legal microchipping regulations.

Information Access:
The site made personal information accessible to anyone who searched using the microchip number.

Not an Approved Database:
Petchip.Network is not recognized as an official database by the UK government.

What to do if you are concerned:
Verify with your vet or the database you originally registered with:
Contact the company that provided your pet's microchip initially to verify information and make any necessary updates.
Be cautious of unsolicited emails or websites:
Only use the official website of your pet's microchip provider to update details.
Report suspicious activity:
If you suspect you have been targeted by a scam, you can report it to the National Cyber Security Centre.
Always use the official databases:
When registering or updating microchip information, use the official database that is approved by the UK Government.

When you purchase house insurance you buy third party liability; when you buy a car, you buy insurance and legally must have third party liability. So when you ...
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When you purchase house insurance you buy third party liability; when you buy a car, you buy insurance and legally must have third party liability.
So when you get a dog the same rules apply.

Apart from purchasing health insurance additional third party cover gives you peace of mind - if your dog bites another dog or a person or your dog is attacked by another dog or causes damage to property.
There will also be vet bills to pay for any injuries suffered.
Your pet is an important part of your family and therefore you would wish to ensure that he is properly insured for any unlikely event.

There have been so many stories in the news about dogs attacking and sadly, in some cases, killing dogs, and this is so devastating for the owners.
Hopefully the guilty owner has insurance cover but more likely than not, they will not.

It is up to you as a pet owner to ensure that you have some form of insurance.
In this current climate, pet insurance is a very prudent purchase.

It is important to bear this issue and the costs when considering becoming a pet owner; yes, it is an additional expense but if you have decided to become a pet owner then you have undertaken to look after your very important four-legged friend.

There are many specialised pet insurance companies out there
see one of our newsletters where some of these can be found along with some contact details.