A STROUD woman has been fined after failing to provide her dog with an identification tag displaying her contact details.

Cheltenham magistrates fined Linda Walker, 49, of Stratford Road, £200, imposed a victim surcharge of £20 and awarded Stroud District Council its full costs of £221.

The council brought the prosecution against Mrs Walker after a dog warden saw her dog - a large black and tan male crossbreed - roaming loose last June in Mathews Way, Paganhill. 

The dog was not wearing a collar with the details of its owners. When the warden attempted to capture the dog, it ran off and she was left with no option but to follow it home.

The law requires a dog to wear a collar with its owner’s name and address on it. Not doing so is an offence with a maximum penalty of £5,000 and/or one month’s imprisonment.

Any dog found in a public place that appears to be without its owner and not under the control of any person may be seized and detained as a stray dog. Without identification the council has no way of identifying dogs’ owners to return them so they are consequently collected as strays and taken to kennels.

Robert Weaver, the council’s environmental protection manager, said: “Mrs Walker had previously received several warnings concerning her dog being out alone and without the required identification. She chose to ignore that advice and, as a result, was taken to court.

"The law clearly states that, when in a public place, a dog must be wearing a collar and identification tag. The tag should give the owner’s name, address and contact telephone numbers. The council has a strong enforcement policy for dealing with problems caused by irresponsible dog owners.”

Members of the public who spot a stray dog can report it to the council’s animal welfare team on 01453 754 478.