The UK’s largest dog welfare charity has teamed up with Highland Council to provide free microchipping for all canines in the region.
Representatives of The Dogs Trust will spend five days at different locations in the Highlands to provide free microchips to local owners.
Microchipping helps to reunite lost or straying pets with their owners. This in turn reduces the number of healthy dogs unnecessarily put to sleep and saves local authorities money by cutting kennelling costs.
The first sessions will be on Friday, between 9am and 12pm in Thurso, at the lorry park opposite Riverside Replicas shop, and in Wick at the Riverside area near Macleay lane from 2pm-5pm.
On Saturday, dog owners should visit the community centre at Golspie High School between 9am and 12pm and the Tesco in Dingwall from 2pm-4pm.
Sunday’s event will be at the West End community centre in Alness between 10am and 3pm.
On Monday, the team will be in the car park behind the Merkinch community centre in Inverness, between 10am and 2pm, and at the same time at The Links in Nairn on Tuesday.
Councillor Graham MacKenzie, chairman of the community services committee, said: “The Highland Council commends the work of the Dogs Trust and we would encourage as many people as possible to bring their dogs along and get them microchipped.
“The council runs campaigns throughout the year to promote dog owners to be responsible for their pets and this latest drive will give owners the reassurance that should their pet become lost or be stolen, he or she is more likely to be returned to them safe and sound.”