Identification

Control of Dogs Order 1992

Every dog whilst in a public place has to wear a collar with his owner’s name and address inscribed on it or on a disc that is attached to it. If your dog is not wearing a collar when out in a public place the police may seize the dog and be treated as a stray. Owners in charge of a dog not wearing a collar in a public place will be guilty of an offence and may be prosecuted and fined.

If your dog strays, you must immediately contact your local dog warden (through your local council) and the local police station. If your dog is found and unclaimed after seven days the Environmental Protection Act 1990 allows your dog to be sold or destroyed after that seven day period.

Microchipping

Dogs are often destroyed because their owners cannot be found and the dog cannot be rehomed. If your dog is microchipped it will be given an unique identification number that is registered on a national database, then you the owners can then be traced quickly and your dog returned safe and well.


Control

Town Police Clauses Act 1847 (outside London) and Metropolitan Police Act 1839 (London)

The following Acts make it an offence to allow ferocious unmuzzled dog to be left unsupervised, or for a person to set on or to urge a dog to attack, worry or put in fear any person or animal in a public place.

Dogs Act 1871

Under this Act, a court may order the owner to keep the dog under proper control or be destroyed if it has received a complaint that the dog is dangerous and is not kept under proper control when out in public.

Animals Act 1971

Under this Act a farmer can shoot a dog without warning if the dog is worrying livestock, the owner can also face criminal prosecution for the same offence under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953

Road Traffic Act 1988

Under this Act it is against the law to have a dog without being held on a lead on a designated road.

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005

Under this Act a local authority is allowed to designate areas of land where dogs are to be kept on leads, or where dogs can be excluded and can also limit the number of dogs that are walked by a single person.

Guard Dogs Act 1975

Under this Act it is an offence to use or give permission to use a guard dog on premises unless the handler who has to be capable of handling the dog is present on the premises and that the dog is under control. The dog also has to be secured so that he can not wander about the premises unsupervised. There must also be a clearly visible warning that a guard dog is present at each entrance to the premises

Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) 1991

There are two main sections to this Act. Section 1 is for the four specific dog breeds including the pit bull terrier. People who own these breeds have to comply with legal requirements including, the dog being registered, microchipped, neutered and tattooed.

The one flaw regarding this law is pit bull terriers are not a recognised breed in this country and as a result owners of cross breeds which look like a put bull terrier have been charge under this Act.

Section 3 applies to every dog, making it a criminal offence to allow your dog to be dangerously out of control in any public place. Instances that are included are the fear that any injury may occur. If owners are found to be guilty under either of these sections of the Act may have their dog destroyed, face a jail term of six months and/or a fine not exceeding level 5 (at the present up to £5,000).


Responsible Ownership

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005

Under this Act dog fouling bylaws can be introduced by the local authority which they can then enforce. A person who is in charge of a dog can be fined for allowing the dog to foul the ground in a public place. The designated land can include roads, parks and other public areas that are in the local authority’s boundaries. It also covers any land that is in the open air and that the public have access to. It is also an offence if the person in charge of a dog fails to clean up it faeces and it is no defence to claim ignorance of the law or of the dog’s actions or if you haven’t got a device available to remove the faeces. All of these can result in prosecution and a fine.

Protection of Animals

There are several Acts on the Statute Book which protect dogs from ill treatment, among them are the following:

The Protection of Animals Act 1911

This Act makes it an offence to beat, kick, ill treat, torture, infuriate or terrify any animal. It is also an offence by action or omission to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal, or, if you are the owner, permit any unnecessary suffering to be caused to the animal. This Act was amended to allow the owner of the animal to be banned from keeping a dog either for life or for such a period as the court thinks fit.

Abandonment of Animals Act 1960

This Act extends the definition of cruelty to include abandonment of an animal.


NOTE: The above information is meant as a guide only, please refer to a solicitor for current and/or localised legal information.