Dog licences on the Isle of Man are being scrapped.
Instead government is making it compulsory to microchip your canines.
The change in legislation officially comes into effect on April 1st – although dog owners are being given six months to make the change.
Microchipping sees a small electronic chip planted under a dog’s skin – each microchip carries a unique code which can be read by a scanner in the event the dog is lost or stolen.
Anyone who hasn't microchipped their pet after October 1st is liable to be fined up to ?500.
Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot says: "Microchipping takes advantage of modern technology to replace a somewhat antiquated licensing system whilst making it easier and quicker reunite a dog with their owner.
"Abolishing an annual licence fee will help reduce the cost of owning a dog – an average saving of ?200 over a dog’s lifetime.
"Dog licences have existed for a number of years and I recognise that compulsory microchipping is a significant change in approach.
"That is why we are delaying enforcement until the autumn, giving owners six-months within which to get their dogs microchipped."
