UK Man Prevented From Finding Chipped Pet Under Data Protection Act

[Linzi]

This man did not report his dog as stolen to the police,if it was my dog this is the first thing i would have done.The company are quite right not give the address to this man, who know's what the real circumstances in this case are.Maybe an ex partner who felt the dog was better off with her.At least he is in a good home and not left on a lead in the garden.The data protection act is not such a bad thing.Linzi

[Klamari]

Originally Posted by Linzi

This man did not report his dog as stolen to the police,if it was my dog this is the first thing i would have done.The company are quite right not give the address to this man, who know's what the real circumstances in this case are.Maybe an ex partner who felt the dog was better off with her.At least he is in a good home and not left on a lead in the garden.The data protection act is not such a bad thing.Linzi

I agree. I don't think the microchip company is at fault here. They have no idea who is the rightful owner. The original owner who had the dog chipped could have sold the dog and never told the company. Unless the original owner actually wins legal right to the dog in court and can prove it to the microchip company, they are just protecting who has possession of the dog right now.

[Matetus]

Originally Posted by Linzi

This man did not report his dog as stolen to the police,if it was my dog this is the first thing i would have done.The company are quite right not give the address to this man, who know's what the real circumstances in this case are.Maybe an ex partner who felt the dog was better off with her.At least he is in a good home and not left on a lead in the garden.The data protection act is not such a bad thing.Linzi

My dog went missing a few times.i have never reported to the police for a few reasons:
1.their normal answer is: it's just a dog
i know that from experience of my parents when they tried.
2.Why should i do a crazy lot of paperwork when i can use that time to try to find the dog.
3.Police won't put it in the emergency just if the dog gets to the local pound,they won't do anything if the dog gets out of the jurisdiction of the local police or if it gets in another town,the other towns police won't have it as a case,and a real stupid thing is that in this country in pounds the dogs aren't controlled if they are tatooed or have a microchip because of that,many missing dogs get killed in the pounds.(here the police jurisdiction is the Town in which is stationed and 5 km outside)


And btw,who says that he isn't on a lead in a garden,who says it isn't mistreated?
Yes,they have all returned.Because i found them or they returned by themselves.

About the marriage disputes i agree.

[Dainerra]

You don't have to say it's an "emergency" or even have the police rush out to your house. Stolen property is never an emergency, but the police will come out and write a report. Even if it is a couple days later. It doesn't take time, less than 5 minutes of your time. That way, you have proof that you are missing a dog matching a certain description.
Sure, I wouldn't do it immediately unless I have reason to actually believe the dog was stolen and not just lost. But after 24 hours?? Heck yeah I'd be calling them. The local pound and the humane society and the local radio station and newspapers are at the top of the list. Home Again also sends out "lost pet" emails. I've gotten one or two. If you sign up, you get emails anytime a chipped pet in your area is reported missing to the company.

If that is the reason that the company refused, then I agree completely that the company was in the right.

[Montana Scout]

got to remember this happened in the UK... their laws may be a little bit different then the US... like someone said, if someone steals a cheap car they get massive jail time... but im sure the SPCA might step in to help you out since they are a form of police

[ahazra]

Well I work in the Information Technology arena and deal with the data protection & privacy laws very frequently. Legal mumbo-jumbo as it may sound, it is enforced for a very valid reason. The original owner should have nevertheless followed protocol and filed a police report. We don't know the complete circumstances behind this story and I bet there's a lot more than what was printed in the media. Eitherways, he should take this matter with the original chip company to track and get his pet back.