Here is some information about your dog and the law which you may find useful.
YOUR DOG'S NEEDS
You have a legal duty to provide for the welfare of any dog you are responsible for. You must take reasonable steps to meet its needs, which include:
- A suitable environment
- A suitable diet
- To be able to exhibit normal behavioural patterns
- To be housed with, or apart from, other animals
- To be protected from pain, suffering, injury or disease.
YOUR DOG’S ID
Your dog must be microchipped. When you get a new dog, you are responsible for contacting the database company your dog is registered with to add your details. You are required to update those details as needed - for example, if you move house.
Your dog must also wear a collar and tag with your name and address when in a public place, otherwise you could be fined.
Your dog must also wear a collar and tag with your name and address when in a public place, otherwise you could be fined.
YOUR DOG ON THE ROAD
When travelling in a car (or other vehicle), Rule 57 of the Highway Code requires that your dog is suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.
Your dog needs to be restrained for its own safety and that of everyone else. If the vehicle stops suddenly and your dog is not restrained, it could be injured or thrown forward and injure another occupant.
If your dog is deemed to have distracted you or prevented you being in proper control of your vehicle, you could face a big fine or points on your licence. In an accident, your insurer could invalidate your policy.
You must keep your dog on a lead while on a designated road – that is one the Local Authority has chosen as such.
Your dog needs to be restrained for its own safety and that of everyone else. If the vehicle stops suddenly and your dog is not restrained, it could be injured or thrown forward and injure another occupant.
If your dog is deemed to have distracted you or prevented you being in proper control of your vehicle, you could face a big fine or points on your licence. In an accident, your insurer could invalidate your policy.
You must keep your dog on a lead while on a designated road – that is one the Local Authority has chosen as such.
YOUR DOG AND ACCIDENTS
If your dog causes an accident or damage resulting in injury, illness or death, a claim could be brought against you, costing you tens of thousands of pounds. We recommend ensuring that you are covered by third party liability insurance, to protect against costs or compensation claims.
KEEPING YOUR DOG UNDER CONTROL
In public places, you must keep your dog ‘under control’. Local Authorities can issue Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) requiring dogs to be kept under control, and requiring owners to clean up after their dog, in certain places.
It's against the law to let a dog be ‘dangerously out of control’ anywhere, even in a private home. If a court decides your dog is dangerously out of control, you could face a fine or prison.
You must make sure that your dog’s barking doesn’t cause a Statutory Nuisance to others.
You must keep your dog under control around livestock. The law empowers a farmer to shoot a dog without warning if it is a threat to livestock. You could also face prosecution.
It's against the law to let a dog be ‘dangerously out of control’ anywhere, even in a private home. If a court decides your dog is dangerously out of control, you could face a fine or prison.
You must make sure that your dog’s barking doesn’t cause a Statutory Nuisance to others.
You must keep your dog under control around livestock. The law empowers a farmer to shoot a dog without warning if it is a threat to livestock. You could also face prosecution.
SCOOP THE POOP
In most public areas, you will be required by law to clean up after your dog. In places with a PSPO, you could face an on-the-spot fine if you if you let your dog foul without a reasonable excuse.
STRAY DOGS
Any dog without a collar on a highway or in a public place may be treated as a stray dog and seized by the Local Authority. If your dog strays, you should contact your local dog warden (through the Environmental Health Department of your Local Authority) immediately and stay in regular contact. If your dog is found by the Local Authority, you must pay the Local Authority's reasonable expenses before it will be returned to you.
After 7 days, if the owner of the stray dog does not come forward, the Local Authority may transfer the dog to someone else, transfer it to an establishment for stray dogs or, in some areas, have it destroyed.
If you find a stray dog you must either return it to its owner immediately or take it to your Local Authority. If you want to keep the stray dog, you must give your name and address to the Local Authority and keep the dog for at least one month.
After 7 days, if the owner of the stray dog does not come forward, the Local Authority may transfer the dog to someone else, transfer it to an establishment for stray dogs or, in some areas, have it destroyed.
If you find a stray dog you must either return it to its owner immediately or take it to your Local Authority. If you want to keep the stray dog, you must give your name and address to the Local Authority and keep the dog for at least one month.
DISCLAIMER: This is not an exhaustive list of dog-related legal requirements. While we try to keep it up-to-date, laws do change so we cannot guarantee its accuracy.