Police are urging dog owners to microchip the pets as they try to reunite almost 50 stolen dogs seized from a St Mary Cray traveller site with their owners.

In the early hours of Wednesday, officers recovered 24 dogs from a site in Orpington as they executed an early morning warrant, followed by an additional 25 dogs during ongoing searches.

They have encountered difficulties in tracking their owners down as most of the dogs have not been microchipped.

Officers suspect they have uncovered an unlicensed puppy breeding operation at the site.

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They are working closely with Bromley Council who have started an investigation into offences under breeding regulations.

Inspector Paddy O’Hara, from the Met’s Dog Unit, said: “It’s really important for dog owners to microchip their dogs, so that if, in the unfortunate circumstance, they are stolen, we can return them to you as quickly as possible if they are recovered.”

“On Thursday, 10 September, an appeal issued across Bromley MPS social media accounts to reunite these dogs with owners reached almost one million people - the post also highlighted the importance of ensuring dogs are microchipped.

“One of the dogs has since been reunited with its owner after being missing for six months.

“We are urging dog owners to ensure their pets are microchipped to help alleviate unnecessary strain on animal charities and local authorities, and to protect the welfare of dogs by promoting responsible ownership.

“A microchip is a small electronic chip, around the size of a grain of rice, which is implanted under the dog's skin and contains a unique number that can be read by a scanner.

“Your contact details relating to each number are logged on a central database, so should your dog ever go missing or be stolen it can be scanned by the authorities and returned to its owner swiftly and safely.”

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In line with government legislation, it is a legal requirement to ensure your dog is microchipped by the time it is eight weeks old - not doing so could lead to a fine of up to £500.

Owners are able to get their dog microchipped for free at any of the 18 Dogs Trust centres across the UK, and free microchips are available at most veterinary surgeries.

During ongoing searches of the site, officers also seized a number of other animals on welfare grounds, including 45 chickens, a pony, four gold finches and several cats and kittens.

If your dog is missing and you recognise one of the pets pictured, please call 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC, quoting Op Medusa.