SOUTHAMPTON dog owners have welcomed the compulsory microchipping of their pets.

As new legislation is brought in, the Daily Echo spoke to dog owners who welcomed the change in the law.

Dog owners may face fines up to £500 if their dog is over eight weeks old and does not have a microchip embedded below their skin.

Yesterday. the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) revealed that more than one million dogs had still not been microchipped.

If local authorities find a dog that without the necessary impant, owners will have 21 days to comply with the law before being fined.

Microchipping costs range from £10 to £30 at veterinary surgeries, but many charities and animal shelters offer to carry it out for free.

Dog owners walking on Southampton Common yesterday welcomed the change to the law and introduction of fines.

Paul Thomas, 56, a teacher from Bassett has a border collie called Jess. He said: “I think the fine is a good thing, everybody should have their dog microchipped. Not having them micro-chipped causes a big strain on charities like the Blue Cross.”

Other comments from dog owners added it is "irresponsible not to have your dog microchipped" because it makes it easier tfor dogs to be returned should they run off or get stolen.

Even those without dogs were quick to sing the virtues of having pets microchipped.

Susanne Harmer, 63, a cat owner, from Ringwood said: “I think it’s a really good idea. I would suggest that the law should be imposed on cat owners too because they seem to go missing all the time.”

Vets have also made sure that pet owners realise the importance of keeping the information on the chip up-to-date.

A Southampton veterinary nurse, who did not want to be named, said: “I think it is a good law, as long as the details of the owner are up-to-date. Often people have their dogs’ micro chipped but forget to update their data.”

Simon Clark from PETtrac, a database where microchip information is stored said: “We often get people who do not update the data on their microchip. A message I would give people is that it is really important to keep your details up to date, all you have to do is phone us and let us know.”