Inside Salisbury: Dog owners given stern warning by Wiltshire Council
Microchipping is a legal requirement for dog owners
By Annette J Beveridge
DOG owners must ensure their dogs are microchipped and that the details stored are accurate.
This warning comes from Wiltshire Council reminding people that microchipping for dogs over eight weeks of age is compulsory. The ruling came into operation in England, Scotland and Wales in April 2016 and helps with the identification of a dog if separated from its owner. It also helps to deter dog theft.
Wiltshire Council’s Corporate Director, Parvis Khansari, said: “Our Dog Warden Team work hard to keep unsupervised animals off the street as stray animals can pose a danger to themselves and 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 on 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."
Charlotte Gumm (39) from Trowbridge, failed to appear at Salisbury Magistrates Court yesterday, (Thursday 10 April). She was found guilty in her absence of 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) also from Trowbridge, appeared at Salisbury Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday 10 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 due to incorrect details 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.
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.
Owners who move house, or even change their mobile telephone number should remember to update their dog’s microchip details. Incorrect or out-of-date information means that your dog is not legally considered microchipped.
To report a stray dog, call 0300 4560107.
