Microchipping dogs to become mandatory in 2016

If you have a dog, you'll know it's a good idea to have them microchipped as soon as possible.

It's a great way of keeping track of them, reuniting them with owners and is just good sense. From 2016, it'll now be mandatory.

The government plans to introduce mandatory microchipping in all pups from September of this year, before it's rolled out to all dogs by March 2016.

Although it's considered to be somewhat expensive, the cost for the procedure has significantly fallen in recent times and will no doubt be lowered once again when the law is introduced.

The law will also make it more difficult for owners to abandon dogs, as each microchip will hold the details of the registered owner, as well as an address and telephone number.

Now, less of the serious stuff. Here's a dog having great craic in a pharmacy.