Dog Walker Faces Charges after Dogs Go Missing Under Her Care

Louise Lawford, 49, a dog walker was allegedly looking after five dogs when they went missing during a walk in the woods in Staffordshire, in June 2019.

Lawford has been accused of nine animal welfare offences, including five counts of undertaking group walks without the dogs being vaccinated. The dogs were let off the leash without written consent and she also failed to intimate the owners or dog warden immediately when the dogs were lost.

She is also accused of three counts of breaching conditions of the licence where she operated a home boarding business for dogs and failed to provide veterinary treatment for a skin infection for a dog.

The case, brought by Birmingham City Council, is due to be heard at the city magistrates' court on 23 January. While her licence was revoked on 28 June 2019.

April Lock, the owner of two pugs Charlie and Ralph said that she was on a holiday, when Lawford first informed her about the disappearance. Lock along with two other pet owners whose dogs also went missing on the same day have been crowdfunding to take civil action against Lawford.