Dog and cat owners in Truro can get their pets microchipped at a discounted rate next week.

On Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, June 1, the city’s Pets at Home store is helping owners protect their pets from being lost or stolen.

It will also enable them to meet government deadlines of compulsory microchipping, which come into force in 2015 in Wales and 2016 in England.

Owners can take their cat or dog to Pets at Home Truro at any time on Saturday, May 30 or Sunday, June 1 and get their pet chipped for the special rate of £10 (usually £15).

Julie Glover, store manager at Pets at Home Truro, said: “As the government deadlines approach, we want to highlight the benefits of microchipping to help owners avoid the heartache of losing a pet.

“Microchipping is a simple, relatively painless and essential procedure for ensuring the welfare of your pet.”

The chip is roughly the size of a grain of rice, fits under the pet’s skin and contains information about its owner, making it easier for both to be reunited should they become separated for whatever reason.

At Pets at Home, when a chip is implanted, every pet is given a unique code number, which is then stored along with the owner’s contact details on the UK’s largest registration database, Petlog.