DOG and cat owners in Kidderminster are being encouraged to attend a microchipping event, to help protect their pets from being lost or stolen.

Pet owners can bring their cat or dog to Pets at Home Kidderminster during Saturday, February 28, and Sunday, March 1, to get their pet microchipped for the special rate of £10.

Next month it will become a law in Wales that all dogs have to be microchipped by eight weeks old, with England following in April 2016.

Emma Morgans, store manager at the branch, said: “As the government deadlines approach, we want to highlight the benefits of microchipping to help owners avoid the heartache of losing a pet.

“Microchipping is a simple, relatively painless and essential procedure for ensuring the welfare of your pet.”

The chip is roughly the size of a grain of rice, fits under the pet’s skin and contains information about its owner, making it easier for both to be reunited.