ONE of the biggest shake-ups of dog ownership laws came into into force last week - and pet owners are being urged to ensure they comply with it.

Strict new make it compulsory for all dogs in England to be microchipped.

And Stretford and Urmston MP Kate Green is advising people to make sure they don't get caught out by the new legislation.

Owners of dogs found by the police or local authorities not to have a microchip will be given up to 21 days to comply with the microchipping law. If they do not, they could face a fine of up to £500.

Microchips are coded with owners’ details which are kept alongside the microchip number on a database, so dogs which are lost or stolen can be returned to owners.

The law is designed to cut the number of stray dogs, reunite dogs who wander too far from home more quickly with their owners, and make it easier to track down the owners of dogs that carry out attacks on people.

Microchipping is largely painless for dogs and is available from vets and for free from some animal charities, such as the Dogs Trust.

Ms Green is a longstanding supporter of microchipping. She launched her Marvellous Mutts responsible dog ownership campaign in 2013. She hosted an event in Victoria Park, Stretford where dog owners could get their pooches microchipped for free by the Blue Cross and RSPCA Manchester and Salford Branch.

She said: “Microchipping offers peace of mind for dog owners, providing the assurance that should your dog be lost or stolen he or she will be returned to you safe and sound.

“I’d therefore encourage all dog owners to get their pets chipped for reassurance and also to avoid a potentially hefty fine.

“If you’ve already been a responsible dog owner and had your dog microchipped, do ensure that your contact details are up to date on the microchip too.”