A Widnes company has been fined £220 after admitting running unlicensed kennels.
A Halton Borough Council spokesman said K9 Corporate Services Ltd, of National Security Dog Training Centre, Hale Road, Widnes, Cheshire was convicted after it pleaded guilty at a hearing last Wednesday at Warrington Magistrates Court.
Halton Council said the court heard how environmental health officers had visited the premises with partner agencies on Thursday, February 12, to execute a warrant and discovered the premises were boarding dogs.
A local authority spokesman said it is an offence under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 to operate an unlicensed boarding establishment.
Offenders risk a maximum £500 fine or three months imprisonment.
They can also be banned from keeping a boarding establishment.
Cllr Stef Nelson (environment services) said: “Officers in environmental health work hard to ensure the welfare of animals throughout the borough and this includes regulating those activities involving animals that require a license.
“Officers are always willing to work with members of the public but we do hope that this recent case sends out a clear message that offenders will be prosecuted if they break the law.”
Officers were first alerted to the premises as a result of information received from a member of the public.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/