There are a number of laws covering the welfare of dogs, and also our responsibilities as pet owners. These can often be confusing and are rarely discussed in the media, so we’ve put together a quick walkthrough of the laws every dog owner should be aware of:
Lost or stray dogs
Each local authority must, by law, have a person appointed to look after stray dogs. If your dog is lost, make sure you contact your local authority (and any other neighbouring councils) as soon as possible. They are required to keep a register of found dogs but, sadly, the council is only obliged to look after the stray dog for 7 days – after a week the dog may be sold, given to a dog shelter for rehoming or destroyed. You may have to pay a fine of at least £25 plus costs for their food and care.
Barking
Pretty much every dog enjoys a good bark now and then, but if this becomes a nuisance for your neighbours you could face a fine and even prosecution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 if complaints are made.
If you do need to leave your dog at home for a period of time, make sure they have plenty of toys, a comfy bed in a sheltered spot plus food and fresh water to keep them happy. Ideally, leave your mobile number with neighbours so they can contact you if your dog seems to be distressed or is making a noise, and check with them on a regular basis to make sure that your dog hasn’t been misbehaving whilst you’re out.
Be sure to also check out our training tips for preventing excessive barking.
Keeping control
For most people, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is all about controlled breeds, such as the Pit Bull Terrier and the Fila Braziliero – although these breeds aren’t banned outright, you do need a Certificate of Exemption and comply with other very strict laws to keep one.
But did you know that the same Act also prohibits any dog, regardless of breed, from being “dangerously out of control in a public place”? The term “dangerously out of control” is defined in the Act as “that the dog will injure a person, whether or not it actually does so”. Dogs that are considered to be “dangerous” may be euthanised if the owner is successfully prosecuted under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
This has very serious implications for all dog owners: whilst you may know that your dog is just being playful and exuberant when they jump up, bark at other people or decide to chase a cyclist or runner, someone less familiar with dogs could find this behaviour hostile and frightening. If they believe that your dog was about to cause an injury, or if they did get a bite or scratch, the police could, in theory, attempt a prosecution under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
For this reason, it’s very important to always keep your dog under control when you’re in a public place: if they are prone to jumping up or barking loudly, consider keeping them on a lead and begin a training program to reduce these behaviours: you can get started by trying our training tips below, but see a behavioural or training specialist if you need further help:
More general training help and advice can be found at uk.pedigree.com.
Further information on the various Acts and laws relating to dogs and other animals can be found on the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) website.