Did you know? In England, owned cats must be microchipped by 20 weeks old — it's been the law since 10 June 2024.

How it works

One Tag.
The Whole Way Home

The Aegis Guardian Tag turns any passer-by into a rescuer — one QR scan reaches you in seconds, while your details stay private. Underneath it, the microchip keeps a permanent, legal record. Here's how the two work together.

The chip is only half the story

A Chip Waits to Be Scanned.
The Guardian Tag Doesn't.

A microchip is your pet's permanent legal ID — but it only works once someone gets them to a vet or warden with a scanner. Most lost pets are found by a neighbour first. The Guardian Tag closes that gap: anyone with a phone scans the QR code and reaches you in seconds, no app and no scanner needed.

£20one-off · free UK delivery over £30

Add the Guardian Tag See How It Works

Keeping your record current is still what makes any scan work — an out-of-date phone number is the single most common reason a found pet never makes it home. Updates are always free on Aegis Pet Hub.

From Lost to Found in Three Steps

The chip is implanted

A trained implanter places the sterile chip under the skin between the shoulder blades — quicker than a vaccination. The implanter registers the chip and your details at the same time.

The record stays current

You keep your name, address and phone number up to date — free, online, any time. Moving house or changing number takes two minutes and is a legal requirement.

A scan finds you

If your pet strays, any vet, rescue or warden scans the chip, searches the number, and the database alerts you — without ever handing your details to a stranger.

Jurisdiction-aware

The Rules Where You Live

Microchipping law is devolved across the UK. Aegis Pet Hub applies the right rules based on where your pet lives.

Scotland

Who: Dogs
By when: 8 weeks
Rules: Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016

Northern Ireland

Who: Dogs
By when: Linked to dog licensing
Rules: Dogs (Licensing and Identification) Regulations (NI) 2012

England

Who: Dogs and owned cats
Dogs: 8 weeks
Cats: 20 weeks
Imports: Within 30 days of entry
Rules: Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023

Wales

Who: Dogs
By when: 8 weeks
Rules: Microchipping of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2015

A vet can certify a health exemption where microchipping would risk an animal's health; exempt animals can be transferred with a valid exemption certificate recorded on the database. This page is guidance, not legal advice — content is reviewed whenever the law changes.

Keeper responsibilities

What the Law Asks of You

Chip on time

Before the age threshold for your nation, or within 30 days of importing an animal into England.

Keep details current

Your name, address and phone number must be correct on the database. This is the duty people forget — and the one that costs reunions.

Never transfer an unchipped animal

An animal can't lawfully change hands unless it's microchipped or a valid exemption is recorded.

New keeper updates the record

When you take on an animal, registering your own details is your responsibility — not the previous keeper's.

Report problems

Adverse reactions, chip migration or chip failure must be reported to the Secretary of State. Aegis Pet Hub gives you a form that files it properly.

Three Things a Microchip Isn't

It isn't a GPS tracker

A chip has no battery and sends no signal. It only responds when a scanner passes within a few centimetres. If you want live location, that's a separate device — the chip is your pet's permanent ID.

It isn't proof of ownership

A registration shows who the registered keeper is — strong evidence, but not a legal title deed. Disputes are resolved on wider evidence, which is why Aegis Pet Hub keeps a full, immutable record history.

It isn't replaced by a tag

Collar tags (including our Guardian Tag) are brilliant for quick reunions, but they're supplementary. The microchip is the legal requirement — tags come off; chips don't.

A Chip Waits to Be Scanned.The Guardian Tag Doesn't.