A man has been fined more than £200 for not having a collar identification tag or a microchip registered for his pet dog. It is compulsory in the UK for all owners to ensure their dog is microchipped and their contact details are up to date - breaking this law can result in a fine of up to £500.
Johnny Rooney Lansdowne of Littleton, Trowbridge, has been forced to pay £219 after a member of the public discovered a stray dog on January 10, 2022, without a collar or identification tag. The animal was claimed by Rooney who provided information to confirm the ownership of the dog. He was then served with a microchip notice that required the pet to be registered within 21 days.
Despite being sent multiple reminders, Rooney did not microchip his dog and the decision was made by Wiltshire Council to prosecute, Wiltshire Live reports.
The case was heard at Salisbury Magistrates' Court on October 11. A fine of £60 was issued (reduced to £40 for a guilty plea), plus a victim surcharge of £34 and prosecution costs of £145 (reduced for proportionality), meaning a total fine of £219.
Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Protection, Ian Blair-Pilling, said: "While we only pursue prosecutions as a last resort, I am pleased with the outcome as our Dog Warden team deal with a large number of stray dogs.
"The more dogs that have collars and microchip tags, the more that can be reunited quicker and easier with their owners.
"Thankfully most dogs are able to be returned to their owners, however some must be taken to kennels where they are held legally for seven days and if not claimed the Bath Cats and Dogs home rehome them on our behalf.
"The outcome of this case serves as a timely reminder that all dogs legally must be wearing both a collar and tag in public spaces and be microchipped with the details registered to a government-approved provider.
"It is in the interest of everyone that dogs have collars and tags so they can be reunited quickly with their owners, and time and money is saved by the council which can be spent on delivery of frontline services."
Since April 2016, all dogs over the age of eight weeks in England, Scotland and Wales must be microchipped and registered on one of the authorised databases.
As well as being microchipped, it is a legal requirement for dogs to wear a collar and tag with the owner's name and address on it when in public.
Do you have a dog story to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
