Guys, please help me out...
I have a registered and microchipped dog who escaped from the backyard of a friends house (North Ryde, NSW) while he was looking after her.
My dog was picked up by the council ranger and I was contacted. I contacted my friend and she was picked up immediately and did not have to stay overnight.
My dog (Missa) normally wears her tag when she is out in public area but as she was inside the house at the time she was not wearing her tag. I have been told as the owner I will be fined as she was found without an ID tag (despite being microchipped and registered) and my friend will be fined for leaving her unattended.
I know you could get fined if your dog is not microchipped but I was not aware that you could get fined if your dog does not have a tag. Furthermore, I was not aware that you could get fined for leaving the dog unattended, if it ran away from home.
According to COMPANION ANIMALS ACT 1998 - SECT 12
(1) A dog must have a collar around its neck and there must be attached to the collar:
(a) a name tag that shows the name of the dog and the address or telephone number of the owner of the dog, and
(2) The owner of the dog is guilty of an offence if this section is not complied with.
(4) This section does not apply to a dog while it is on property of which the owner of the dog is the occupier or to a working dog.
I know that they have a case against me as she wasn't as my property and she wasn't wearing her tag. However, she is microchipped, surely it serves the ID purpose of a tag?
Is there anyway I can appeal for leniency for these fines? Its $360 all up and I really can't afford it.
