Dozens of dog owners took advantage of a free microchipping event in Elgin yesterday.
Moray MP Angus Robertson and MSP Richard Lochhead hosted the afternoon at the New Elgin and Ashgrove Public Hall, where they welcomed 86 residents.
The procedure of inserting a chip, the size of a grain of rice, into the collar area of a dog takes only a few minutes – but they last for the animals’ lifetime.
The event was coordinated by the Dogs Trust charity, which had representatives on hand to inform visitors on the benefits of microchipping.
A charity spokeswoman said there had been an “excellent turnout”.
As per Scottish Government ruling, all dogs will need to be microchipped by April 2016.
Mr Robertson said: “This is a simple and effective tool which helps to rapidly reunite lost or straying pets with their owners.
“And that, in turn, reduces the number of healthy dogs unnecessarily put to sleep.
“The session in Elgin not only helped people comply with the new legislation at no cost, but provided valuable advice on aspects of dog ownership.”
Mr Lochhead added: “Scotland is a nation of animal lovers, so we must do all we can to safeguard dog welfare and promote responsible ownership.
“Events like this continue to push that figure higher, and they raise awareness amongst dog owners that they need to get their dog chipped.”