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Three people were fined hundreds of pounds when their dogs were found not wearing tags after being picked up as strays.

The dog owners from Blaby were ordered to pay more than £750 between them for the offences.

Brian McFarlane of Queens Road, Blaby had his Staffordshire Bull Terrier picked up as a stray at the Texaco Petrol Station on Lutterworth Road, Blaby.

He entered a plea of not guilty but did not attend court.

McFarlane's case was proven in absence and he was found guilty. He was fined £320 and ordered to pay £40 in costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

Kay Merry of Earl Smith Close, Whetstone, was fined £225 after her Collie was picked up on Attfield Drive, Whetstone as a stray.

She pleaded guilty and was fined £53, ordered to pay £140 in costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

John Ashmore pleaded guilty and was given a conditional discharge after his German Shepherd was picked up as a stray on Seine Lane, Enderby.

Ashmore was ordered to pay £140 in costs and to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

Under the 1992 Control of Dogs Order, all dogs must wear a collar with the name and address, including postcode, of the owner engraved or written on it.

Anyone breaking this law will be given a fixed penalty notice by Blaby District Council, to be prosecuted at Magistrates' Court.

Councillor Iain Hewson, portfolio holder for leisure and regulatory services, said: "We want to reiterate how important it is for dogs to have an identifiable collar or tag when out in a public area. Complying with the law means you are likely to get your dog back much quicker and not picked up by us as a stray.

"We know that dogs can sometimes accidentally get out into a public area unattended, and we hope these fines continue to raise awareness and ensure that in any scenario a dog that can easily be identified can be returned quickly."