Sefton Council welcomes prosecution of unlicensed Southport dog kennels

2nd February 2018

Sefton Council has welcomed the successful prosecution of an unlicensed dog boarding company in Southport.

A representative of Paw2Paw Ltd, based on Scarisbrick New Road, plead guilty at South Sefton Magistrates Court this week (Wednesday January 31) to three offences under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act relating to keeping an unlicensed dog boarding establishment.

They were fined £990 and ordered to pay a £33 victim surcharge and £1007 in costs, totalling £2030.

  1. Sefton Council’s Trading Standards team were alerted to issues at Paw2Paw after receiving three complaints from members of the public regarding alleged treatment of their dogs while boarding at Scarisbrick New Road.

In one complaint it was alleged that a French Bulldog had suffered trauma and bloodshot eyes after boarding with Paw2Paw, while the owner of another noticed a change in the behavior of their pet after being taken for walks by the company.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulation and Compliance, said:

“This is yet another successful prosecution for our Trading Standards team and my sympathies go out to those owners whose pets fell foul of Paw2Paw Ltd.

“When customers tried to challenge Paw2Paw and ask to see their licence, they were refused so they turned to our Trading Standards team for help.

“We welcome the guilty plea and hope that this conviction serves as a stark warning to other unlicensed businesses and those that fail to comply with rules and regulations that we will seek to prosecute.

“We would like to thank those that came forward to report their concerns, and would encourage others to be vigilant in order to tackle other incidents of a similar nature.”

For more information about licensing or to report any concerns you may have visit www.sefton.gov.uk/business/licensing-registration.