Hefty bill for 'nuisance' Kettering dog owners

A pair of dog owners have been ordered to pay almost £1,000 each after breaching an order aimed at preventing anti-social behaviour.

Artur Arlauskas, 31, and Larisa Aleksandravilute, 33, had both been warned by Kettering Council about failing to keep their pooch under control.

They were slapped with a community protection notice - but failed to stick to it and were hauled in front of magistrates in Northampton last month.

The case against the pair, now of Humphrey Close in Barton Seagrave, had previously been proven in their absence after they let their brown chihuahua run loose unaccompanied outside their house, didn't keep it on a lead and allowed it to escape, breaching the notice they had been served with.

They also didn't have their dog microchipped, a breach of a law introduced in 2016, and failed to co-operate with the council.

At their sentencing hearing Aleksandravilute told magistrates that she no longer has the dog and admitted that she failed to act when required to do so by the council.

They were both ordered to pay a series of fines and costs totalling £939.93 each.

Shirley Plenderleith, head of public services at Kettering Council, said: “Breaching a community protection notice causes nuisance for members of the public and is taken seriously as it can affect the community’s quality of life.

"Additionally, microchipping is the most effective tool for our wardens to reunite dog owners with their lost pets.

"However, it’s only useful if the information on the chip is kept up-to-date and it is the owner’s legal responsibility to ensure this is done."

Updating microchip details can cost as little as £15 depending on the database. You can request a dog microchipping appointment online at www.kettering.gov.uk/dogs or by calling 01536 410333.