A Trowbridge dog owner has been prosecuted after failing to update his dog’s microchip details and allowing the animal to be in a public place without a collar displaying his name and address.
Wiltshire Council brought the case against Gareth Powell, 45, at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Tuesday 21 July, where he pleaded guilty to both offences.
The court fined Powell £116 for each offence. He was also ordered to pay Wiltshire Council’s costs of £506.84 and a victim surcharge of £92.
The prosecution followed an incident in November 2025, when a German Shepherd named Hexa Vom Arapol was found straying in Castle Place, Trowbridge.
After scanning the dog, officers discovered the microchip was still registered to a previous owner. The dog was also not wearing a collar displaying the current owner’s name and address.
Wiltshire Council’s Dog Warden team collected the dog before later reuniting her with Powell after he provided proof he was the keeper and paid the required release fees.
Following the incident, Powell was served with a microchip improvement notice requiring him to update the registered details within 21 days.
The council said the microchip information remained inaccurate despite repeated attempts to secure compliance, including letters, emails and telephone calls.
It is a legal requirement for dog and cat owners in England, Scotland and Wales to ensure their pets are microchipped and that the registered details remain accurate.
“Owners must also update the information if they move home or change their contact details.
Councillor Paul Sample, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “Microchipping is not just a legal requirement, it’s a basic responsibility of pet ownership.
“When contact details are missing or outdated, it prevents us from reuniting lost animals with their families and puts unnecessary strain on council resources.
“We’d given Mr Powell every opportunity to comply, but instead he chose to ignore the issue. However, the law is clear, pet owners must ensure their microchip details are accurate and up to date.
“We will not hesitate to prosecute those who fail to comply.”
