A PET owner has been fined more than £700 for failing to have his dog microchipped under new legislation.

Kaine Aaron Ford, 21, of Grasmere Court, Haresfinch, was found guilty in his absence at Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates’ Court of failing to update his dog's microchip details.

The court heard how Ford's female bull terrier type dog was seized as a stray dog in January this year.

On claiming the animal back from St Helens Council’s Dog Welfare and Enforcement Service, Ford was served with a notice under section 12 (a) of the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015, requiring him to have it microchipped within 21 days.

However, Ford failed to comply, despite being given a notice allowing him an extra seven days to do so.

On Friday (April 28) Ford was fined £220, with costs of £491.80 and he was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30.

Welcoming the prosecution, principal environmental health officer for St Helens Council, Mike Petersen, said: “Dog owners were given enough notice prior to April 2016 when it became compulsory by law for all dogs to be microchipped. We even chipped dogs for free for 12 months before the introduction date.

“Hopefully this outcome will act as a costly reminder to dog owners to ensure that their pet is microchipped and that details on the chip are up to date, for we will not hesitate to prosecute those who fail to comply.”