PET owners from Burnley are being encouraged to get their animals microchipped this weekend.

Pets At Home, in Anchor Retail Park, Active Way, has called on residents to ensure their cats and dogs are chipped ahead of legislation which comes into force in 2016.

Adam Wolstenholme, store manager, 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.” 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.