DOGS and dog lovers will take over Jubilee Lake this weekend.

The inaugural Paws Around the Lake, run by Hepburn Shire, will be held this Saturday between 10am and noon.

The event is being held in conjunction with the shire's annual domestic pet microchipping, which will be held between 10am and 2pm for $25.

There will also be a sausage sizzle, lucky prizes and give-aways.

Shire spokeswoman Sue Moses said there were many proven and documented benefits of owning a pet, including walking.

"Walking your dog a few times a week offers health and social benefits," she said.

"People who walk a dog regularly are fitter and happier.

"Pet ownership can also benefit the whole community as, while out walking, people acknowledge and greet other people in the street, meet and exchange favours with neighbours and can organise to meet up with others regularly

for walks and perhaps for coffee afterwards."

Ms Moses said dog owners who had not had their pet microchipped should take advantage of the day.

"It provides lifetime identification for your pet and is the fastest and most effective way for an animal to be identified and returned to its owner, should it go missing anywhere in Australia," she said.

"A dog or cat coming into council's possession is scanned for the presence of a microchip and, if a microchip is detected, the owner can be contacted immediately.

"Animals that are microchipped are registered on the national database Central Animal Records."

Shire pet registrations are due on April 10. Under new State Government legislation from May 1, all pets being registered for the first time, or for the first time in the shire, or do not have current registration with Hepburn Shire,

must be microchipped.