DOG owners could face hefty fines if they don't follow one little-known law - but it's easy to avoid getting caught out.

       The 1992 Control of Dogs Order - which covers England, Wales and Scotland - states that dogs must have an identity tag on their collar.

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       Dog owners could face hefty fines if they don't follow one little-known law Credit: Getty - Contributor

       Owners who fail to include the tag are in breach of the Animal Health Act 1981 and could face an unlimited fine.

       The tag must include a name and address, but phone numbers are not obligatory.

       The only exception are working dogs, such as guide dogs, and even applies if the owners switch from a collar to a harness for their dog's health.

       Penalties for breaches of the Animal Health Act 1981 used to be capped at "level 5" (￡5,000) - until the level was done away with in 2015.

       So all criminal penalties expressed as being punishable on summary conviction by a maximum fine of ￡5,000 or more, or expressed as being a level 5 fine, are now punishable by a fine of any amount.

       As a result, owners who fall foul of the law could face up to six months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

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       However the fines are often much smaller.

       In 2018, a Cocker spaniel owner was fined ￡50, with ￡50 costs and a ￡30 victim surcharge for admitting the offence.

       It comes amid a string of lesser-known dog rules, which could hold serious consequences for owners who aren't clued up.

       Failure to microchip a dog could see owners hit with fines of up to ￡2,000.

       An investigation by pet shop Pets At Home has found that council fines for not micro chipping your dog can vary between ￡25 to ￡2,000 depending on where you live.

       Failing to get your furry friends registered with a microchip could land you with a hefty fine.

       Having your dog micro chipped is required by law in UK and must be done before your puppy is eight weeks old.

       It has been two years since the government introduced the microchip scheme and it is estimated that only one in eight dogs are micro chipped.

       Getting a professional to micro chip your dog should cost around ￡15, so it is really worth doing as your council could charge you up to a staggering ￡2,000.

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