Wandsworth woman fined almost £2k for pet dog's 'loud barking'

A South London dog owner has been ordered to pay more than £1,700 after her pet dog's "loud barking" disturbed residents living on an estate.

Michelle Moore, 50, of Clarence Lane, was handed the heavy fine at Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court on February 2 for failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice (CPN).

Wandsworth Council said Ms Moore had breached legal orders designed to prevent her and her dog Ruby, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, from causing disturbance in and around Portswood Place on the Alton Estate in Roehampton.

The council brought the case against Ms Moore for breaches of the CPN in 2020 and 2022.

The authority said residents on the estate have complained multiple times about Ms Moore, mainly due to her dog's loud barking. Ruby is also let off the lead which left residents fearful and anxious, particularly kids, the council added.

Ms Moore has been handed multiple verbal and written warnings since 2015 requiring her to control Ruby and keep her on a lead while in public places on the estate, in line with housing estate bylaws, according to the council.

But the authority said these warnings failed to improve the situation so Ms Moore was given an Acceptable Behaviour Contract. This escalated to a CPN in 2018 which initially banned her from bringing Ruby within a 400-metre radius of Portswood Place, and was later amended after being repeatedly breached to prevent her from taking her dog anywhere on the Alton Estate, according to the council.

Ms Moore was convicted by magistrates for breaching the CPN for the first time in May 2018 and fined, the council said. She was summonsed to appear at Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court in February for further breaches in 2020 and 2022, the authority added.

Ms Moore was convicted of two offences and handed a fine of £480, along with a victim surcharge of £48 and costs of £1,200 – totalling £1,728.

A Wandsworth Council spokesperson said: "The council's dog bylaws are there to protect our residents and deter people from behaving anti-socially, and in particular from allowing their dogs to roam around the estate causing problems.

"Taking people to court is always a last resort, but if dog owners repeatedly breach the bylaws and other legal remedies then they run the risk of a court appearance and a heavy fine."