Since the start of the pandemic dog ownership has skyrocketed. Though there are huge positives to bringing a dog into your family it carries with it a set of obligations and responsibilities. These have to be followed not just because of an obligation to your pet but to also stay on the right side of the law.
BirminghamLive have gone through some of laws on keeping animals under control as well as other rules on barking, identification, fouling, breeding, travelling in vehicles, and when you must put a dog lead or leash on your pet. Across the whole of the UK there were nearly 22,000 cases of out-of-control dogs causing injury just last year.
This is massively up from four years before when the figure was closer to 16,000. When a case goes to court prosecutions can result in a range of punishments. Owners have seen themselves receiving prison sentences, suspended jail sentences, community sentences, fines, and compensation orders.
The most serious offences result in an immediate custodial sentence for the owner and in some cases an order is made for the dog to be destroyed. Here are the dog laws everyone should know – not just owners but also general members of the public who will encounter dogs at various points in their everyday lives. Below are some of the key rules you need to follow if you own a dog.
Microchipping
As of 2015 regulations introduced strict rules on microchipping of dogs. This is so they can easily be identified if lost, stolen, found, or given or sold to a new owner. All dogs over the age of eight weeks must have a microchip fitted and the owner's details registered and kept up to date.
It can hit you in the wallet if you don't do it. You could be fined £500 for not having your dog microchipped or failing to keep the database updated with changes such as a new address. If your dog is rehomed the new owners must add their details. There are exemptions to microchipping if a vet believes there are valid reasons not to carry out the procedure.
Fouling
A real frustration for many when dog owners can't be bothered to clean up after their pet. It is actually against the law not to clean up after your dog in a public place. Similar rules can apply even if it's on your own property – a man was recently prosecuted for failing to comply with a council's community protection notice over the smell and health risk of dog poo littering his back garden. Canine faeces can contain parasites that cause blindness in people as well as pregnancy loss in cattle. Owners can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of up to £100 or a fine of £1,000 if prosecuted for not complying with regulations.
Dog leads
According to the Highway Code dogs should not be let out on a road on their own and should be kept on a short lead when walking on the pavement or road or on a path shared with cyclists or horse riders. Your local authority can also make additional orders for dogs to be kept on a lead along 'designated' routes where signs will be installed to tell people they need to do so. Many councils have also imposed public spaces protection orders that mean dogs must be kept on a lead in places such as children's play areas, parks, beaches, and sports pitches.
Collars
On top of a microchip dogs must wear a collar with the owner's name and address on it (or on a tag attached to it) when in a public place. Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992 owners can be fined up to £2,000 for not doing this.
Barking
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 barking can be classed as a statutory nuisance. The council can ask people to stop their dogs from annoying neighbours with persistent barking and, if it continues, they can even take the dog away.
Control
Wherever you are allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control "in any place" is against the law and that applies whether in public or in your own home or garden. However a dog's owner or keeper would not be guilty of this if "the person in relation to whom the dog is dangerously out of control is in, or is entering, the building or part as a trespasser" – so if it bites a burglar or attacker who has no right to be in your home this law doesn't apply. A dog doesn't have to bite or physically injure someone for it to be considered out of control – it could still be an offence if someone simply fears your dog could hurt them because of its behaviour.
Welfare/cruelty
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 dog owners can be prosecuted if they don't look after their pets and could face a fine of up to £20,000 or a prison sentence of up to 12 months as well as a ban on keeping animals. The act says pets have the legal right to be properly housed, given the right food, and protected from pain, suffering, injury, and disease. Docking a dog's tail (except for medical reasons or in certain breeds) or cropping its ears is also illegal.
Travel
The Highway Code also says that in vehicles you must make sure dogs (or other animals) are "suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly". A seatbelt harness, pet carrier, dog cage, or dog guard are recommended as ways of restraining animals in cars. They can't just be wandering around in the back.
Accidents
Owners are ultimately responsible for their dog. If your dog causes a road accident that results in injury, illness, or death you could find a claim being brought against yourself. The Animals Act 1971 states that the keeper of the animal is liable for the damage. Vets suggest owners have insurance to protect against this because legal costs and compensation can run into tens of thousands of pounds. If a dog is injured or killed in an accident drivers or riders must give their details to the animal's owner or keeper. If there is no-one with the dog the incident should be reported to police within 24 hours.
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