A pet owner whose dog was unlicensed was unmasked after his dog was seen outside and unaccompanied in the street.

Frank John Thompson’s Great Dane dog was spotted out in the street near his home in Lord Street by a passer by who told the police.

Police visited and spoke to 32-year-old Thompson after the incident which was at around 7.15pm on February 11.

For the prosecution, Michael Jelski told the court the dog was once more secure inside the house by the time police arrived.

’The defendant told police the dog was his and it had been outside the property,’ he said.

’He then told police he was going inside to watch the football and shut the front door on them as they tried to caution him and he did not reply,’ he added.

In a letter supplied to the court from Ward, which was read out at the hearing, the defendant said: ’At the time, I did not realise I needed a licence as he does not go out on public roads.’

Thompson said the dog was habitually taken in the car to private land owned by a friend and exercised there.

’It will not happen again,’ he said.

’He was not threatening in any way and now I do own a dog licence. I am sorry for any inconvenience.’

He told Douglas magistrates he was currently looking for work.

Magistrates’ chairman Carol Maddrell fined him £100 with £50 costs.

Tynwald is currently considering abolishing the dog licence in the Isle of Man but owners have been reminded the requirement remains in force currently. Dog licences cost £20 from the post office with a reduced fee of £10 for pets that are neutered, micro-chipped or owned by people over 60. The plan is for compulsory micro-chipping once the licence is abolished.