Halton yet to issue fine under new dog microchipping laws
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HALTON Council has revealed it is yet to take legal action against dog owners for failing to have their pet microchipped since compulsory chipping came into force last April.
A spokesman for the local authority said it had ‘ not had cause’ to issue any fines or notices.
Under the legislation, owners can be fined for not having their dog chipped or for failing to have their correct details registered with the database.
His comments came after Dogs Trust revealed that 92% pet pooches in the North West are now fitted with a microchip so they can be reunited with their families if found after being lost or stolen.
The trust warned that 80,000 of the region’s owners are breaking the law.
It said 4,808 strays were reunited with their families in 20152016, some as a direct result of a microchip. It added that 7% of the 5,446 stray and abandoned dogs that remained unclaimed in local authority kennels in the North West last year could not be reunited with their owners because their microchip details were out of date.
A Dogs Trust spokeswoman said UK councils have issued 2,751 enforcement notices since the legislation came into force – 1,464 for dogs not chipped and 1,287 for owners whose details were incorrect on the database.
The average fine issued to dog owners was £340, with the maximum penalty recorded as £500.
Under the legislation, all pet canines over eight weeks old must be microchipped.
Anyone breeding a puppy for sale is required to microchip the dog at eight weeks, and register their details to the microchip before the sale.
The buyer of the puppy must then update the details on the database once they take ownership.
Anyone buying a puppy should be aware that the animal should be microchipped and the microchip should be registered to the breeder.
The only dogs that should not be chipped are those with a vetissued Department For Environment, Farming And Rural Affairs exemption form.
Dogs Trust added that under the Control Of Dogs Order 1992, all dogs must wear a collar and identity tag in a public place and the tag must show the owner’s name and address.
Alex Jackson, Dogs Trust’s head of campaigns, said: “Whilst we will continue to work hard to make sure the remaining 8% of owners in the North West get their dog chipped, we are pleased that the law is working well across the UK with 95% of the nation’s dogs now chipped.
“A good proportion of local councils are issuing notices to people who have not microchipped their dogs or updated their details, so we hope to see the total number of people complying with the law increase significantly over the next few years.” ●