All pups must be chipped before they reach eight weeks of age.
The government says one million dogs are not yet chipped and the new law will lead to a decrease in the number of stray or lost dogs – by allowing pets to be reunited with their owners.
A microchip, the size of a grain of rice, is inserted under the loose skin on the back of a dog’s neck – giving it a unique 15-digit code.
Owners of dogs without a microchips will have 21 days to comply with the law or be fined.
Some local authorities, some vets and charities such as the Dogs Trust will microchip dogs without charging.
The new law will not replace existing requirements for dogs to wear a collar and tag with their owner’s name and address when in a public place.
Compulsory microchipping is already in place in Northern Ireland, which has seen a decrease in the number of stray, lost and abandoned dogs.
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