Dog owners are being reminded to get their animals chipped or face a fine of up to £500.

The new East Cambridgeshire District Council dog warden Jenessa Springhall says that owners of unchipped dogs found by the police or local authorities will have the benefits explained to them and be given a short period to comply with the microchipping law.

If they do not they could face a fine of up to £500.

The new rules will not only protect the welfare of dogs and promote responsible ownership, but also make it easier to track down the owners of straying dogs, she said.

Jenessa said: “If we pick up a loose dog and it has a microchip fitted we can have that pet back with their worried owner within a couple of hours. It saves the pet and the owner a lot of stress.

“It also saves the owner money as we have to charge them kennelling costs if we are looking after their dog.

“If the dog is not microchipped and it takes several days to track down the owner, they could face a significant bill.”

Last year the council dealt with nearly 100 stray dogs many of whom were successfully reunited with their owners even though some did not have microchips or had incorrect owner details.

Karen See, senior environmental health officer said “Microchipping dogs will not only help to reunite people with their lost or stolen pets, but also help to tackle the growing problem of irresponsible dog owners who may not be so caring.

“This will help to relieve the burden placed on animal charities and local authorities, who have to deal with many hundreds of unwanted and stray dogs every year.”

Jenessa’s role includes collecting stray dogs, helping to trace owners and complaints about noise.