Dog owners will have to follow new LAWS coming into place this week

A new law has been put in place which sees all dog owners having to microchip and register their dogs.

They must also own a government-approved certificate which will prove that the dog has been chipped.

The new laws have been set in place in order to deter the number of abondonded dogs all over the country and also make it easier to find lost pets.

This will also mean that from Friday it will be illegal to pass on a dog to another person, even without payment, if the dog is not microchipped.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine told RTÉ: "Widespread microchipping of all dogs brings a range of benefits including the protection of the welfare of dogs and assist with speedy identification of stray dogs and their owners,” he said.

"It will act as a deterrent for those who abandon dogs and assist in identifying marauding dogs and those that pose a threat to livestock or people."

Those that break the new laws could face a fine of up to €5,000.