Owner's fury at lost dog charge
A BELLSHILL dog owner has hit out at North Lanarkshire Council after being charged a 'heinous' amount for the return of her lost pet.
Lynn Stewart says her pooch Tia escaped her lead during a morning walk last week.
Although her husband, Alan, tried to catch the Cairn terrier, she got away and the couple had to leave for work, leaving Alan's brother Gary to take over the search.
The two-year-old dog was found at Orbiston Gardens and scanned for a microchip, which is inserted in a pet's neck and contains contact details, by a council warden.
As Tia is chipped, the warden was able to take her to Lynn and Alan's home in Cairnlea Gardens, but the couple were both still at work.
Lynn says she returned home to find a note saying Tia had been uplifted. She was shocked at the 125 charge.
She said: "Tia was taken to kennels for no more than two hours as I returned home from work to get her.
"I was forced to pay 125, which is a heinous amount of money, and I don't know how it can be justified."
North Lanarkshire Council defended the charge, explaining it is to cover increasing costs.
Andrew McPherson, environmental health manager, said: "When owners aren't home, or dogs are not chipped, animals are taken to the kennel for a minimum of seven days before being passed to the SSPCA.
"There is a flat fee of 125 for all owners reclaiming dogs from our facility."
Full story in September 2 edition of Bellshill Speaker
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Friday 25 May 2012
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