Ludgershall Dog Owner Fined After Failing to Update Microchip Details

A dog owner from Ludgershall has been fined after failing to update her dog's microchip details and ensure it wore a collar displaying the legally required identification information.

Allison Prudence Collin, 61, of Short Street, Ludgershall, was found guilty at Salisbury Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 27 October after failing to comply with dog identification requirements.

Ms Collin was convicted in her absence of failing to ensure her dog wore a collar displaying the owner's name and address and failing to comply with a formal notice requiring its microchip details to be updated.

She was fined £220 and ordered to pay £389.21 in costs, along with an £88 victim surcharge.

The case followed an incident in April 2026, when a terrier-type dog named Cookie was found wandering without an owner in the Short Street area of Ludgershall. The dog was taken to a local veterinary practice for assistance.

Although Cookie was wearing a collar, it did not display the owner's name and address, as required by law. A microchip scan confirmed that the dog had been chipped, but the information held on the database was incorrect, preventing the registered keeper from being contacted.

Wiltshire Council's Dog Warden team collected Cookie and arranged temporary kennelling while efforts were made to establish ownership.

The following day, Ms Collin collected the dog from the council's holding kennels, provided proof of ownership and paid the required fees. She was also issued with a formal notice requiring her to update the microchip details within 21 days.

Despite further attempts by the Dog Warden team to contact Ms Collin by letter, telephone and email, the microchip information remained incorrect. The council subsequently initiated prosecution proceedings.

Cllr Paul Sample, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said microchipping was one of the quickest and most effective ways to reunite lost dogs with their owners, but stressed that it only worked when the information recorded on the database was accurate and up to date.

He said the incorrect microchip details and missing identification information on Cookie's collar had made it difficult to identify and contact the owner.

Cllr Sample added that council officers had provided multiple opportunities for the issue to be resolved, but the necessary action had not been taken.

The council confirmed that this was its seventh successful prosecution for failing to comply with legislation relating to dog microchip records. It hopes the case will remind dog owners of their legal responsibilities and the importance of keeping their pets' identification details current.

Under UK law, dogs must be microchipped by the age of eight weeks, and owners must ensure their contact details remain up to date on the relevant database. Dogs in public places must also wear a collar displaying the owner's name and address.

Dog owners can check or update their pet's microchip information by contacting the database provider. Guidance on approved microchip databases is available through the official GOV.UK website.

Anyone needing assistance with updating their dog's microchip details can contact Wiltshire Council's Dog Warden Service at dogs@wiltshire.gov.uk.

Stray dogs can be reported through the council's online service, which is available 24 hours a day. Residents who cannot report a stray dog online can contact Wiltshire Council on 0300 456 0107 between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.