Dog chipping a cynical money-making ruse

It claims that if you lose your dog it can be returned to you more easily. This is a cynical tug at our heartstrings.

The issue is animal welfare.

Most animals are neglected rather than lost. Most biting incidents, straying and fouling are the result of irresponsible ownership.

As the Scottish government points out chipping does nothing to improve animal welfare or make better owners.

So why call for chipping at all? Chipping makes someone responsible and that means they can be made to pay.

How long will it be before it becomes the responsibility of whoever is on the chip to pay the fines?

This already happens if you fail to register your vehicle as off-road and you are liable if you fail to transfer details when you sell.

If your dog was stolen and abandoned you could be liable for costs or even fined for someone else's crime.

Once again we see the neoliberal approach to civil liberties exposed. Protecting animals and the public is a facade for blaming individuals by removing their personal freedom.

Chipping won't prevent you getting bitten, stepping in dog mess or having strays wandering around but they will make sure that somebody pays, while government takes its cut.

What should a socialist approach be? We should invest in training our children in responsible animal care.

Stray dogs need to be collected by dog wardens. That means improving services and not cutting them, better state education and taking a collective approach to animal welfare.

None of these things will happen unless you join in your local anti-cuts activities.

Don't sit back and watch your freedom go to the dogs. Oppose this waste of your hard-earned money and send this Con-Dem proposal and unelected government straight to the dog house!

Rob Rodgers

Nottingham