Dog microchips 'to be compulsory' in England

About 5,000 owners already voluntarily choose to microchip their dogs

Compulsory microchips for dogs are to be introduced in England, under plans expected to be announced on Monday.

Ministers are expected to say that every newborn puppy should be microchipped to make it easier to trace and prosecute owners of violent dogs.

But critics of the plan question its effectiveness and the potential cost of the move.

Earlier this month Northern Ireland became the first part of the UK to introduce a law on microchipping.

The microchips each contain a unique number and are implanted into the loose skin between a dog's shoulder blades.

The information will reportedly be stored on a central database which can be accessed by the police and the RSPCA.

Charities have broadly welcomed the rules, suggesting they could also help reunite lost dogs with owners.

A spokesman for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "We will very shortly be announcing a package of measures to tackle the problems caused by irresponsible dog owners.

"This is an issue we take extremely seriously and so have taken the time necessary to get the policy right."

About 5,000 owners already voluntarily choose to microchip their dogs.

Welsh Environment Minister John Griffiths said last December that he was considering introducing legislation requiring all dogs in Wales to be microchipped.

The Welsh government is to consult on plans for compulsory microchipping later this year.

Meanwhile, Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, said in March there were no plans in Scotland to introduce compulsory microchipping.

Pets ban for Somerset cruelty pair with 69 animals

When RSPCA officers raided the property in October they were "swamped by a sea of dogs"

A couple have been banned from having animals for eight years after allowing their 69 pets, including 56 large dogs, to live in squalid conditions.

Nicola Hood, 31, and James Hood, 40, of Queens Road, Minehead, admitted nine counts of animal cruelty last month.

The couple's baby was found in a bed with sheets soiled with bird droppings.

Taunton magistrates gave them a two-year conditional discharge and ordered them to pay £250 each in costs, which will go to the RSPCA animal charity.

The conditional discharge means they will be re-sentenced if they breach the conditions of their release.

During the sentencing, Ian Denley, defending the couple, said they thought of the house as an "animal sanctuary" and were "devastated" by the loss of the dogs.

The defence lawyer said the pair were "devastated" by the loss of their dogs

"The irony of this case is that both Mr Hood and Mrs Hood are animal-loving people," said Mr Denley.

"Clearly this enterprise got out of control and both my clients accept that was the case."

The family currently have two gerbils, two hamsters, a cat, a lizard, four cockatiels and a Green Amazon parrot, the court heard.

Mr Denley said since the court proceedings began, the family had received death threats and had bricks and eggs thrown at their house.

Speaking outside the court, RSPCA inspector Amanda Swift said: "There were far too many animals for such a small property.

"This case highlights the need for a scheme to properly register dogs."

"The irony of this case is that both Mr Hood and Mrs Hood are animal-loving people”

When the RSPCA officers raided the four-bedroomed semi-detached house in October they said they were immediately hit by a "strong smell of ammonia" after entering the "dirty" house.

After opening the living room door, RSPCA officers found themselves "swamped by a sea of dogs".

The pair had 56 dogs, including huskies, German shepherds, Rottweilers and Staffordshire bull terriers, three cats living in the bathroom, six birds, including love birds, in dirty cages, and four chinchillas.

During a hearing on 30 March the couple both admitted three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and six of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of the animals were met.

The court was told the couple's five children were at risk of contracting disease from the animals.

The nine-month-old baby was found in the bed with soiled sheets during the raid by RSPCA officers.

The prosecution told the court in March many of the animals had been suffering from complaints affecting their eyes, teeth, ears and skin, some of them for up to a year.

Neighbours complained of endless noise from the dogs and said the smell was so bad, it stopped them going in to their own gardens.

Most of the dogs have been rehomed and eight remain at the RSPCA centre at West Hatch.

Somerset County Council said it was made aware of the family and dealt with the issue of child safety.