Dog microchip date set for England

Every dog owner in England will have to microchip their animal by April 2016 under government plans aimed at cutting the growing number of strays.

The microchips will be coded with owners' details, and owners who do not comply could face fines of up to £500.

Government figures reveal that more than 100,000 dogs are dumped or lost each year, at a cost of £57m to the taxpayer and welfare charities.

Jon Kay reports.