A Sheffield woman has been fined £630 for failing to get her pet microchipped.

Sarah Hewitt, aged 38, of Winn Grove, Winn Gardens, was served with a legal notice by Sheffield Council ordering her to get her dog microchipped when it was discovered that the procedure had not been carried out.

She was advised of a free microchipping service the council was offering, but on a follow-up visit by the council's dog control officer, the dog was found to still not be chipped.

Sheffield Council said further visits were made to encourage Ms Hewitt to microchip her dog, but she failed to agree.

At Sheffield Magistrates' Court she was fined £220 and ordered to pay court costs of £381.78 as well as a surcharge of £30 - making a total of £631.78.

Councillor Bryan Lodge, Sheffield Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “We are pleased with this result. “Microchipped dogs are much more likely to be returned to their owners if they go missing. While dogs still have to wear a collar and tag, these can fall off or become illegible, whereas microchips are a far more reliable means of identification.

“It is a pity that this dog owner chose not to microchip her pet, despite the efforts of our staff, and has instead had to pay the price in court.”