BRADFORD Council is working with The Dogs Trust to provide free community events over the next few months.

Three events will be held in February, March and April and will be providing free microchipping, free check your chip service, free advice from Dogs Trust Dog School and free basic health check including nail clipping.

The first event will take place on February 17 at The Springfield Centre from 11am until 3pm. The second event will take place on March 16 at Sandale Community Centre from 11am until 3pm. The third event is April 27 The Keith Thompson Centre, Keighley from 11am until 3pm.

At Dogs Trust Community Events, a veterinary nurse will carry out basic health checks including nail clipping, and they will check eyes, ears, teeth and weight, to make sure your dog is happy, fit and healthy.

Alongside the health check, the team will provide advice on diet, training and neutering.

Each owner will be provided with a responsible dog ownership pack, including handy tips and useful resources to continue to use at home. Free goodie packs will also be available for puppy owners and those who are thinking of getting a puppy.

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Extra goodie packs will be available for those wanting to learn how to stay healthy with their dog. Dog owners can also find out about free dog training from Dogs Trust Dog School.

The team offer free on-the-spot microchipping for dogs that aren’t yet chipped (microchipping is a legal requirement as of April 2016). They can also advise about changing microchip details should it be needed.

No appointment is required. They will operate on a drop in basis but please keep dogs on a lead when attending the Community Events.

All breeds of dogs are welcome at our Community Events, whether a pup or an adult, however Dogs Trust will not chip active hunting hounds or litters of puppies. They ask that puppies under six months old are fully vaccinated and proof of vaccinations are brought along to the event.

If the puppy has recently been vaccinated, they must be carried for the 10 days following their final vaccination. Dogs over 6 months old do not require proof of vaccination.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “These events are great for dog owners to get some free advice and support.

"Dog owners need to be clear on the steps they need to take to act responsibly in keeping their pets safe. As well as being a legal requirement, micro chipping is of high importance as it also enables dogs that are lost or stolen to be reunited with their owners."