It was a wonderful opportunity to see their work first hand.

Dogs were having a small microchip the size of a grain of rice implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades.

This can be read by a reader so if the dog ever gets lost its owner can be quickly traced.

Compulsory microchipping – which comes in in 2016 - is a major step forward in dog welfare, not least for the part it will play in reducing the stray dog population in years to come.

Dogs Trust are offering free microchipping at these events and I urge local dog owners to take advantage of this simple and effective tool before 2016.

You can find out more at http://www.chipmydog.org.uk/

Image: With Caroline are Sara-Jane Leslie, Education Officer at the Dogs Trust, and Andy Elliot with Poppy, who has just been chipped.