Dog owners in the UK are being warned over using the wrong collar which could land them a fine of up to £5,000.
Dog walkers face a four-figure fine and even possible jail time of their pets are out for a walk without the proper identification.
Failing to include your name and address on your dog’s tag is in fact illegal.
In the worst-case scenario, dog owners could even be given a six-month custodial sentence.
Warning issued to dog walkers
The Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that dogs in England and Wales must wear a collar with the owner’s name and address on it.
People who do not comply could be found guilty of an offence under the Animal Health Act 1981.
If found guilty, a dog owner could be "punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale".
A spokesperson for DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) told Team Dogs: “For crimes committed after 13 March 2015, level 5 has been done away with and all criminal penalties expressed as being punishable on summary conviction by a maximum fine of £5,000 or more, or expressed as being a level 5 fine, are now punishable by a fine of any amount.
"That’s as a result of section 85 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
“Therefore, the maximum penalty on summary conviction will be up to six months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.”
The law does not state that dog owners must include their phone number however they must include their post code on the dog’s collar or tag.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article