Microchipping
In England a compulsary microchipping law came into effect on 06th April 2016. All dogs currently not microchipped will have to be chipped and registered with a database compliant with the new regulations, such as Petlog, and all breeders will need to microchip their puppies by the time they are eight weeks of age and before they are transferred to a new keeper. The new keeper will then be responsible for updating the database relevant to that microchip with their details. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to £500.00.
Find out more you can call 01296 318540 or visit www.petlog.org.uk.
The Control of Dogs Order 1992
This law mandates that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the full name and address of the owner, including post code, engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag attached to the collar. Your telephone number is optional (but advisable).
There are some exceptions to this order – mainly relating to working dogs, but the owner must have proof of lawful authority on him.
This order gives the local authority powers to treat such a dog as a stray. (Note: this does not empower police).
The Road Traffic Act 1988
Section 27 of theRoad Traffic Act 1998 states that:
“A person who causes or permits a dog to be on a designated road without the dog being held on a lead is guilty of an offence.” It also states, in this section, that ‘designated road’ means a length of road specified by an order in that behalf of the local authority in whose area the length of road is situated.
The Environmental Protection (Stray Dogs) Regulations 1992
These regulations implement certain provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 with regard to stray dogs. The regulations state that the local authority must appoint an officer for dealing with stray dogs found in the authority’s area. An owner wishing to reclaim a dog which has strayed can only do so if he or she pays the authority’s expenses incurred by detaining the dog, together with a fine. The fine amount is currently set at £25.
The regulations also oblige the officer to keep a register of dogs seized by him or her, and the details that are to be entered in the register. The register must be available for public inspection. The regulations also describe the procedure to be followed by the officer where a dog is found by a member of the public who wishesto keep it.
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
This Act applies to all dogs, not just ‘fighting dogs’ and owners should be aware of its contents. The Act applies to any dog deemed to be dangerously out of control in a public place. The penalty for having such a dog is either destruction of the dog or the owner may be disqualified from owning a dog for any time the court sees fit.
Under the terms of the act a ‘fighting dog’ is described as one of the following:
1. Pit Bull Terrier (also crossbred pit bulls)
2. Japanese Tosa
3. “any dog of any type designated for the purposes of this section by an order of the Secretary of State being a type appearing to him to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose”.