Up to 1.4 million dogs in the UK are yet to be microchipped ahead of a new law that comes into force this week.

On Wednesday, dog owners will face fines of up to £500 if they haven’t microchipped their pet.

It is estimated that 1.4 million of the nation’s 9 million dogs have not yet been registered as the deadline hovers into view.

The creation of a National Canine Database will ensure that microchipping is a legal requirement.

Every dog owner in the UK must register their animal, in a bid to prevent dogs being abandoned.

Under the new plan, the microchip inserted under the dog’s skin will contain its owner’s contact details.

Lee Paris, from the Dogs Trust, said: “Having a dog microchipped should give owners peace of mind, because all dogs have the capacity to escape, no matter how responsible the owner is. This will make it much easier to reunite worried owners with their pets.”

Microchipping has been a legal requirement in Northern Ireland since 2012, and now England, Scotland and Wales are introducing similar rules.

About 120,000 dogs are abandoned or lost in the UK each year.

(Picture: Rex)