Woman fined over dog boarding offence

A woman has been fined for boarding dogs at her home in Buckshaw Village without a licence.

Stevie Todd, 26, was charged with keeping the property, where she then lived, as a boarding establishment for dogs without a licence.

South Ribble Council prosecuted Ms Todd under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.

Todd, now of Poets Nook, Leigh, near Wigan, was convicted in her absence by Preston magistrates.

She was fined £250 and ordered to pay £150 costs to the council and a £30 victim surcharge, with a 28-day collection order.

The court heard the council had acted on complaints and wrote to Todd, asking her to complete a licence application pack and then sent a further letter with a

final warning to halt the business.

Todd advised the council that she would close the business down and would only operate a dog-grooming business afterwards.

But, after a visit in September, the council received evidence that two pet owners had paid £10 per day to board the dogs at the property in October.

Coun Jacqui Mort, South Ribble Council’s cabinet member for public health, safety and wellbeing, said: “This case is a reminder that not everyone follows the rules where boarding licencing are concerned and we would encourage anyone who is considering using boarding kennels or catteries to ask the owners for proof of a current licence for their own peace of mind.

“Operating without a licence potentially creates a risk to those pets.”