Missing cat poster brings £75 graffiti fine

Lynda Dyson was overjoyed when the A4 computer print-outs she taped to trees and lamposts near her home in east London helped to reunited her with the three year-old, black Persian cat.

But her delight was short-lived after a demand for £75 from the local council's enforcement department landed on her doormat. The fine was issued under Section 43 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act, which polices fly-posting and graffiti.

Mrs Dyson said home-made posters have helped people to find missing pets for centuries and should be treated differently.


Photo from here.

"In a world where there is less and less community spirit, to impose a law and fine me for something like this is horrible," she said. “Pets are a very important part of people's lives. Without those notices, I would never have got her back. I don't see it as being anti-social behaviour at all. Fluffy is outraged.”

A spokesman for Waltham Forest Council said the fine, issued last month, was given "in error" and later cancelled.

"In this case a mistake was made and we would like to apologise unreservedly to Ms Dyson for any offence or alarm that was caused," he said.