Pretty soon, all dogs in England will have to be microchipped as part of a government attempt to reduce the number of strays and to make owners more responsible for their animals, according to The Guardian.

From April 2016, all dog owners must have their animals fitted with an RFID-based microchip, or face the penalty of a fine of up to £500 (~ USD $787). Owners will also be held responsible for registering the details of any new owner if they sell or give the dog away.

The microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, is placed under the skin between the dog’s shoulder blades and stores the pet owner’s contact information. This will allows vets, councils and charities to find out who owns a dog if it is thought to be a stray.

To further promote the newly enforced microchip program, animal welfare charities including the Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs Home, and the Blue Cross, will provide a free microchip for any unchipped dog at centers across the UK.

Read the full story here.