Dog Owners Could Face Unlimited Fine Over Little Known Law

Dog owners have been warned they could face an 'unlimited fine' over a little known law.

Formby Lost and Found Pets is urging all owners to educate themselves and make sure their pets are properly tagged.

Otherwise, it warns, they could see themselves hit with a huge penalty, potentially costing them thousands of pounds.

Previously, the maximum a person could be fined for breaching the law was £5,000, however, it is now unlimited.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, a spokesperson for Formby Lost and Found Pets said: "This legislation really needs to get out there.

"So many new dog owners, and existing owners, don't know or just don't realise not only is it the law to microchip your dog, but you also need to have a metal tag on their collar, with owner contact details.

Alamy

"Please help us share this message, if dogs go missing [and they are microchipped and tagged] they stand a chance of getting home.

"Please also make sure your dogs' microchips are up to date and registered, or they are of no use either."

While there are some exceptions, the Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that pets have to wear a collar with an ID tag on it when out on public land.

This is also covered in the Animal Health Act of 1981, which states that owners can be charged if they are found to be in breach of the law.

Speaking to TeamDogs, a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs explained that the law had changed and that the previous fine limit of £5,000 had now been removed.

They said: "For crimes committed after 13 March 2015, level 5 has been done away with and all criminal penalties expressed as being punishable on summary conviction by a maximum fine of £5,000 or more, or expressed as being a level 5 fine, are now punishable by a fine of any amount.

Alamy

"That's as a result of section 85 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

"Therefore, the maximum penalty on summary conviction will be up to six months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine."

Bonfire Night is just around the corner, and while it can be a great evening for us humans, it's a whole other story for the majority of pets who are terrified of the loud sounds made by fireworks.

But thankfully, a dog owner has shared a useful hack to help soothe your furry friends when those colourful and loud displays start kicking off.

Caitlin Miller from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, took to Facebook last year to reveal that you can simply make one of these at home using an old sock and a pair of scissors.

All you need to do is cut the end off each sock and place it around your dog's head and it'll comfort them, almost as if they're being cuddled.

Topics: Police, UK News, law, Dogs, Politics

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

@SmithersDom