Unlicensed kennels firm fined £2,000

AN UNLICENSED dog boarding company was fined more than £2,000 after being prosecuted in court.

A representative of Paw2Paw Ltd, in Scarisbrick New Road, Southport pleaded guilty at South Sefton Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday to three offences under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act for keeping an unlicensed dog boarding establishment.

The case came after the council received three complaints from members of the public over alleged treatment of their dogs while boarding at the kennels.

In one complaint, it was alleged a French bulldog had suffered trauma and bloodshot eyes after boarding with Paw2Paw, while the owner of another noticed a change in the behaviour of their pet after it had been taken for walks by staff at the company.

Sefton Council has welcomed the prosecution and said that it should be seen as a warning to other unlicensed businesses.

Sefton Council’s cabinet member for regulation and compliance, Cllr Paulette Lappin, said: “This is yet another successful prosecution for our trading standards team and my sympathies go out to those owners whose pets fell foul of Paw2Paw Ltd.

“When customers tried to challenge Paw2Paw and ask to see their licence, they were refused so they turned to our trading standards team for help.

“We welcome the guilty plea and hope that this conviction serves as a stark warning to other unlicensed businesses and those that fail to comply with rules and regulations that we will seek to prosecute.

“We would like to thank those that came forward to report their concerns, and would encourage others to be vigilant in order to tackle other incidents of a similar nature.”

For more information about licensing or to report any concerns you may have, visit www. sefton.gov.uk/business/ licensing-registration