Owner charged £700 over lost dog's missing records

A dog owner has been ordered to pay nearly £700 for failing to ensure her lost dog could be traced back to her.

Allison Prudence Collin, 61, of Short Street, Ludgershall, was found guilty of failing to ensure a dog wore a collar displaying the owner's name and address and failing to comply with a formal notice requiring the dog's microchip details to be updated.

It follows an incident in April 2026, when a terrier-type dog named Cookie was found wandering through the Short Street area without an owner present.

At Salisbury Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, Collin, who did not attend the hearing, was fined £220 and ordered to pay £389.21 in costs and a £88 victim surcharge.

It marks the seventh successful prosecution brought by Wiltshire Council for failure to comply with legislation relating to dog microchip records.

Councillor Paul Sample, cabinet member for public protection, said: "We hope it serves as a reminder that keeping a dog's identification details up to date is both a legal responsibility and an important way of helping lost pets return home safely."

It is a legal requirement for dogs over eight weeks old to be microchipped, and for the owner's details to be kept up to date.

Although Cookie was wearing a collar, it did not display the owner's name and address as required by law.

The dog was taken to a local veterinary practice where it was scanned and found to be microchipped, but the information recorded on the database was incorrect and the registered owner could not be contacted.

The council's dog wardens collected Cookie and arranged temporary kennelling until ownership could be established.

The following day, Collin collected Cookie from the council's holding kennels, provided proof of ownership and paid the required fees.

She was also served with a formal notice requiring the microchip details to be updated within 21 days.

Despite further attempts to contact Collin by letter, phone and email, the microchip details remained incorrect and prosecution proceedings were initiated.

Sample said: "Our officers provided multiple opportunities for the issue to be resolved, but the necessary action was not taken.

"When dogs aren't microchipped, our officers have to spend valuable time and resources resolving the issue.

"Microchipping is one of the quickest and most effective ways of reuniting lost dogs with their owners, but it only works when the information recorded on the database is accurate and up to date."

Owners can check or update their dog's details by contacting the database where the microchip is registered.

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