As a dog owner, or someone who is considering rehoming a dog, you should be aware of the law regarding dogs. This applies whether you have bought a dog from a breeder or have adopted a dog.
The information below is from the Government's website.
1. Overview
2. Out of Control dogs
3. Public Space Protection Orders
4. Microchipping
1. Overview
It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as:
- in a public place
- in a private place, e.g. a neighbour’s house or garden
- in the owner’s home
The law applies to all dogs.
Some types of dogs are banned.
2. Out of control dogs
Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it:
- injures someone
- makes someone worried that it might injure them
A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if either of the following apply:
- it attacks someone’s animal
- the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal
Penalties
- You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to 6 months (or both) if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed.
- If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to 5 years or fined (or both). If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with ‘malicious wounding’.
- If you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine (or both).
- If you allow your dog to injure an assistance dog (for example a guide dog) you can be sent to prison for up to 3 years or fined (or both).
3. Public Spaces Protection Orders
Some public areas in England and Wales are covered by Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) - previously called Dog Control Orders (DCOs).
In public areas with PSPOs, you may have to:
- keep your dog on a lead
- put your dog on a lead if told to by a police officer, police community support officer or someone from the council
- stop your dog going to certain places - like farmland or parts of a park
limit the number of dogs you have with you (this applies to professional dog walkers too) - clear up after your dog
- carry a poop scoop and disposable bags
Penalties
If you ignore a PSPO, you can be fined:
- £100 on the spot (a ‘Fixed Penalty Notice’)
- up to £1,000 if it goes to court
- PSPOs in your area
- Local councils must let the public know where PSPOs are in place.
Example: if dogs aren’t allowed in a park, there must be signs saying so.
If the council plans to put a new PSPO in place, it must put up a notice and publish it on its website.
The notice must tell you:
- where the new PSPO will apply
- if there’s a map and where you can see it
You can report dog fouling to your local council.
4. Get your dog microchipped
You must make sure your dog is fitted with a microchip by the time it’s 8 weeks old.
- You can be fined up to £500 if your dog isn’t microchipped.
- The rules are different if you’re in Scotland or Wales.
- What happens when your dog’s microchipped
- Your dog’s microchip is given a number, which will show up whenever your dog is scanned.
The professional who microchips your dog will also take your contact details.
These details are kept alongside the microchip number on a database, so that your dog can be returned to you if it’s lost or stolen.
You must make sure that your dog is registered on one of the databases which meet government standards. You can be fined up to £500 if your dog is registered on a database that is not on the list.
Your dog must still wear a collar and tag with your name and address when in a public place.
Updating your details
You’re responsible for keeping your dog’s microchip information up to date, for example if you move house.
Contact the database company your dog is registered with to update any of your details.
You might be charged for updating your dog’s microchip information.
Find out where your dog’s registered
You can check the microchip number if you don’t know which database your dog is registered on.
If you don’t have the microchip number, you can ask any of the following to scan your dog for it:
- at our LAA Centre
- a vet
- a dog warden
- a dog rescue centre
Buying a dog
You should ask for proof a microchip has been fitted before buying a dog. You can ask to see any of the following as proof:
- microchip certificate
- vet records
- pet passport
You may also be able to see microchip information in the dog’s pet insurance papers.
You must make sure the microchip details are updated once you have bought the dog.