Bracknell Dog owner ordered to pay £1,878 for twice failing to keep microchip data up to date
NICOLA JAMES was convicted at Reading Magistrates Court on 13th August 2021 after being found guilty in her absence of 2 offences for failing to microchip a dog properly and 1 offence concerning the dog straying without a collar.
Ms James of Bullbrook, Bracknell, was prosecuted following an investigation by officers from the Public Protection Partnership supported by the Joint Case Management Unit.
On the 8th September 2020, a female terrier/pug cross was found by a member of the public without a collar and tag, and was then picked up by Public Protection Partnership Animal Warden. Although the dog had a microchip implanted, the microchip had not been registered with any database and so had no owner details. Ms James came forward to claim the dog and provided proof of ownership. She was given a formal notice requiring the dog’s microchip to be registered with correct details of the owner, their name, address and telephone number.
Then again on the 7th April 2021 the same stray dog was picked up in Lily Hill Park, Bracknell. The microchip remained unregistered, so Ms James was issued with another notice and given 21 days.
She was fined £250 for the 1st microchipping offence, £350 for the 2nd microchipping offence and £400 for the dog having no collar. She was ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £100, a contribution towards prosecution costs of £600 and the cost of recovering, kennelling and reuniting dog and owner totalling £178 (2 x £89).
Commenting on the case Cllr John Harrison , executive member for Culture, Delivery and Public Protection said: “We know that dogs sometimes get loose and stray away from home. This highlights how important it is for dog owners to have their pets microchipped and registered with up to date details.
I am glad that in this case, the dog was reunited with its owner but this shows why it is vital that details are kept up to date.”
All dogs and puppies over 8 weeks old are required to be microchipped with up to date keeper’s details, under the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015. Doing so helps us reunite owners with dogs should you be separated for any reason. All dogs in public should also have a collars with an identification tag showing the dog’s name and address of owner, even if it microchipped.
Anyone wishing to report any matters of this nature or any other public protection matter can contact the service on 01635 503242.
