We are not allowed to trace the owner from the microchip. Only the microchip companies can do that. Nor are we given the breeders name, but because the population is relatively small we can often find out who they are.
There is a clause in my bill of sale which states that the dog must come back to me if the owner cannot keep it for any reason. It isn't legally enforceable but it does make people think.
So what happens if they're chipped? does whoever scans (vet?) have to contact the microchip company, and rely on them to contact owners? always thought chips were a brilliant idea - (though no luck in tracing our missing cat!) but is that their downfall then?
Good idea about the 'return' clause, the rescue centre Sheba was from said the same.
How many Brittanys are there in Britain then? Are they 'rare' or just special?!
Brittanys came into the UK in 1982, I had a dog from the first litter the following year. We had 4 when my first husband, Sandy, was alive; and 8 at one time when John, my second husband, was alive, and I now have three - possibly increasing to four
. There are now about 3500 in the country but not all registered with the KC. A lot of them are owned as falconers or roughshooters dogs and they don't all bother registering litters. About 150 are being shown and about 15 being field trialled. Many others are worked to the gun. And YES, they are special!
If a dog is found by the RSPCA or dog warden and scanned, they inform the microchip company only! It is then left to the company to find out if the owner wants the dog back or not. They NEVER contact US - the breed club - or the breeder. We are often told by the general public that 'there is a Brittany in such and such dogs home'. I find that totally wrong and have said so but it doesn't seem to change their minds. Sometimes a dog gets loose because the owner has not been informed properly as to how to train it - there are a great many people breeding Brittanys without giving proper after sales service. The Club has members who are experienced trainers and can help owners so that they could perhaps have their dog back. We have one such dog at the moment, supposedly a runaway, destructive, aggressive to other dogs, suffers separation anxiety. He has been with one of our Committee members for about a week and is running free with his own three dogs - 2 bitches and a dog - with few problems. He has been introduced to numerous other dogs with no problem, is no longer destructive and with a bit of luck his owner will be retrained too so she can have him back. If anyone wants to know moer look here -
www.brittanyclub.co.uk