MICROCHIPPING dogs could be made compulsory, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones will say today.

She will tell a conference on pet welfare in Cardiff that she is considering the move and will announce a review of the licensing and regulation of dog breeding.

In the meantime dog owners will be encouraged to have identity chips implanted in their animals so they can be traced.

An Assembly Government spokeswoman said the review would look at what legal powers were available to make microchipping compulsory and to whom it would apply.

It comes after Ms Jones last month announced plans for a complete ban on electric shock dog collars.

Local authorities have been looking into cruelty and neglect at some puppy farms as part of Assembly Government-funded projects.

The review was called after councils found Wales had 249 unlicensed premises, although they were not necessarily guilty of poor welfare.

The Assembly Government said "the figure warrants further investigation of the licensing requirements’’.

The minister said: "While the breeding of dogs for sale is a legal and legitimate trade, the production of puppies on a commercial scale with little or no consideration of welfare issues is unacceptable.

"I will be establishing a task-and-finish group to review existing guidance on the licensing of dog breeding establishments, and look at whether existing legislation should be amended.

"In order to improve traceability of dogs, I will be encouraging voluntary microchipping while we consider the need to make microchipping compulsory.’’ She added: "The Welsh Assembly Government takes the issue of animal welfare very seriously, and has a strong history of educating animal owners and taking action against abuses.’’ A code of practice for the welfare of rabbits will also be launched. Codes for cats, dogs and horses have already been published.

Vets see more rabbits with welfare problems than any other pets, the Assembly Government said.

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