Dog owners urged to microchip pets following prosecutions

Dog owners are being reminded that it is a legal requirement to microchip their dogs and ensure the details stored on it are up to date – failure to do so could lead to a prosecution and fine.

The reminder follows recent prosecutions by Wiltshire Council’s Dog Warden Team. 

Microchipping is in place to enable identification of a dog and helps authorities reunite stray pets with their owners. Updated microchips also act as a deterrent to dog theft and give vets and officials the ability to easily contact an owner in an emergency.  Microchipping for dogs over eight weeks of age was made compulsory in England, Scotland and Wales in April 2016.

Charlotte Gumm (39) failed to appear at Salisbury Magistrates Court last week (Thursday, 10th April) and was found guilty in her absence for failing to comply with a notice requiring her to update her dog’s ownership details on the microchip database.  She was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs of £584.69 to Wiltshire Council and a victim surcharge of £88.

Her dog, Stella, was collected as a stray in September 2023 and April 2024.  On each occasion, Stella was taken to the council’s holding kennels as the incorrect ownership details were stored on the microchip database. Ms Gumm contacted the holding kennels and provided proof of ownership and paid the appropriate fees. She was served with notices on three separate occasions requiring her to update the information on the database within 21 days.

Despite multiple attempts by the council’s dog wardens to contact Ms Gumm via letter, phone and email, the details on the database were not updated.

Nathan Ashton (40), appeared at Salisbury Magistrates Court last week (Thursday, 10th April). He pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a notice requiring him to update his dog’s ownership details on the microchip database.  He was fined £50, ordered to pay costs of £50 and a victim surcharge of £20. Mr Ashton immediately updated his dog’s microchip following the hearing.

His dog, Ronnie, was collected as a stray in August 2024 and taken to the holding kennels as the correct ownership could not be traced by the wardens, as the incorrect details were found to be on the microchip database. Mr Ashton contacted the holding kennels and provided proof of ownership and paid the appropriate fees.  He was also served with a notice requiring him to update the information on the database within 21 days but failed to do so.

Parvis Khansari, Corporate Director, Place at Wiltshire Council, said: “Our Dog Warden Team work hard to keep unsupervised animals off the street as stray animals can pose a danger to themselves and to others.  

“When a dog goes missing it can be distressing for both the dog and their owner. All dogs must legally be wearing a collar and a tag in public places and be microchipped with their details registered to a government approved provider. This is quick and painless for your dog and increases the chances of you being reunited with them if they go missing."  

In 2024/25, Wiltshire Council dog wardens collected 245 dogs as strays, of which 75 were successfully reunited with their owners. Of those collected, only 14 had up to date and correct information registered on their microchips.

For microchip data to be useful, the details recorded must be up to date. Therefore, owners who move house, or even change their mobile telephone number should remember to ensure their dog’s microchip details are updated. Incorrect or out-of-date information means that your dog is not legally considered as microchipped. 

To report a stray dog people should call Wiltshire Council, 24 hrs a day, 0300 4560107.