Housing estate's free pet chips

The micro chip is put under the animal's skin

A 150 pets have been given free identification micro-chips in a scheme to promote animal welfare in Gwynedd.

The RSPCA has been offering the service in Maesgeirchan, Wales' third largest housing estate.

A 100 dogs, and 50 cats have already been chipped, and vouchers to pay for neutering have also been handed out on the estate on the outskirts of Bangor.

From this week, pets will also benefit from a weekly mobile clinic for those who struggle to pay vets fees.

RSPCA Inspector Kevin Paton said the idea was to prevent welfare problems developing in the first place.

"We've been offering advice as well as the free micro-chipping," said Mr Paton.

"People have been asking us about all sorts of things from minor injuries to how to treat fleas," he said.

People here are mainly elderly and any facility provided is a bonus Roger Kelly, pet owner

Although for the most part the pets which have visited the clinic have been cats and dogs, there has also been a ferret.

"The idea here is to let people know what their responsibility and duty is when they keep an animal.

"We are trying to be pro-active not reactive so we don't just bang on people's door when we are investigating cruelty," Mr Paton added.

RSPCA inspector Tim Jones said he would like pet owners to take more advantage of the vouchers on offer to neuter dogs and cats.

'Looked after'

"The number of cats needing homes has increased a lot this year so an important part of what we are doing is giving out neutering vouchers, although some pet owners have refused them," he said.

The Maesgeirchen estate in Bangor has 996 homes, and the RSPCA inspectors have been going around each one to ask if they keep pets, and to publicise the event.

The chip contains information which can trace the owner

"Roughly a quarter of the homes we've visit have pets, and I must say that most of the animals we've seen are very well looked after," he added.

Pet owners travelled from far and wide to take advantage of the event, said Mair Eluned, the local branch development officer.

"Taking a pet to the vet does cost a lot of money, and people who do not have much money may well think twice before taking a pet to the vet because of that," she said.

Resident Roger Kelly was one of those from the estate to take advantage of the clinic to have his Jack Russell Sally, 10, micro-chipped.

"I think this is a really good idea in case they wonder off," he said.

"The mobile clinic will also be great because people here are mainly elderly and any facility provided is a bonus," he said.