Owning a dog brings a lot of enjoyment but also a great deal of responsibility. This page is designed to give you an idea of the laws relating to dog ownership.
Identification
All dogs in public places must wear a collar with a plate or tag, with the owner's contact details inscribed on it.
Failure to do so can result in the dog being picked up as a stray and fines of up £5000. It is also advisable to get your dog microchipped. This greatly increases the chances of you being reunited with your dog, should you lose it.
Fouling
Under the Fouling of Land Act, failure to clean up faeces deposited by your dog can result in an on-the-spot fine of £50 and/or leave you facing fines of up to £1000 and a criminal record.
Stray dogs
A dog is considered a stray if it is not under the control of its owner in any public place, or on any private land without the permission of the landowner. This may result in the dog being picked up by the Animal Welfare Service and the owner fined for its return.
Dangerous Dogs
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 makes it an offence for any dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place. This can result in the police seizing the dog and in severe cases obtaining a court order for the destruction of the dog.
Dogs which are named under the DDA 1991 must be kept on lead by someone who is sixteen or over, and muzzled in public. Dogs named in the act include the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Filo Braziliero. It is now an offence to own these dogs unless they have been registered.
Dogs and livestock
Dogs must never worry livestock: Even letting your dog walk in the same field as livestock may be considered as “worrying”. A farmer is entitled to kill your dog if it is worrying livestock.