A Holderness woman must now pay over £1,500 after being prosecuted for a second time for failing to update the contact details on her dog’s microchip, which costs just £16.
Lorna Caddy, 38, of Main Street, Great Hatfield, failed to appear at Beverley Magistrates on Wednesday, 26 April where she was facing a charge under the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015, which came into force in April last year.
Magistrates heard how Caddy’s case had first come before the courts in December last year, when she was the first person in the East Riding to be prosecuted under the new microchipping laws.
They were told that Caddy had first come to the attention of East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s dog wardens in August 2015 when she attended kennels to pick up her dog, which had strayed, and was informed the details on the microchip were incorrect and needed updating.
Caddy failed to update the details, despite a number of letters sent by the dog wardens, and in November last year, she failed to attend court and was fined £220, has to pay costs £328 and a victim surcharge of £30.
Since that court hearing, the council’s dog wardens made a number of checks to ensure Caddy had complied with the law and had updated the details on the microchip.
The dog wardens found that details had still not been updated and despite a number of reminders, including one inviting her to a formal interview, and wardens visiting her home, Caddy failed to respond to any communication.
A final warning letter was sent to Caddy on 23 March which again was not responded to and after more checks revealed details on the microchip still had not been updated, she was charged again.
Caddy failed to appear at Beverley Magistrates Court and the case was proved in her absence and for this second offence she was fined £500, given costs of £386 and a £50 victim surcharge.
David Howliston, environmental control manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“The council’s dog wardens have made numerous efforts to contact Caddy but she has chosen not to engage with the council and has now found herself before the courts twice.
“There was a very simple resolution to this and had Caddy updated the information on the chip when she was told about it in August it would have cost her around £16.
“It is a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped and owners must keep the contact details on it up-to-date.
“Dogs are much-loved pets and correct details on a microchip make it so much easier to reunite pets and owners should they become separated.
“The majority of dog owners are responsible and do comply with the law but for the minority who do not and fail to co-operate with our dog wardens, we will prosecute.”
