Pet licence for dogs

Re: Pet licence for dogs

Rachel Jayne — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:31:33 GMT

I've always been pro-bringing them back, in an attempt to reduce irresponsible ownership, but then I agree it will probably send the number of abandoned dogs soaring & it'll be expensive to roll out & potentially difficult to police...

I do think the Dog's Trust Campaign for compulsory Microchipping is worth it though, at least someone, be it not the current owner if the poor pooch had been passed from pillar-to-post would be responsible for the dog & chips count as legal proof of ownership doen't they, so they couldn't back out of it.

The £1000 dog poo fine is a joke in my opinion...how many dog wardens (where they still exist after council axing) have enough time to walk the streets/parks to catch someone in the act of leaving poo, in order to report them?!?!
Also, dog wardens that used to come to a practice I worked at said it's just bluffing anyway, cases hardly ever go to court as it costs more than the fine to process the case....

Re: Pet licence for dogs

Katie Mansfield — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:19:10 GMT

We have a HUGE problem with dog faeces on my estate. The estate across the main road is even worse. I rang the council and moaned cos without fail one of my lil'uns will tred in some on the way to or from school. They told me it cost too much to send a man round to watch people not picking up and fine them. Apparently they did that a few years ago cos the fine is £1000 but people were denying the dog belonged to them......

If they can't afford to police that then they'll never afford to police a licencing system. Sad really, cos I'd love to impose my animal keeping course and tests, compulsory insurance etc, etc,etc but there just aren't enough responsible owners out there.

K x

Re: Pet licence for dogs

Sal the 1st — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:51:40 GMT

what would the benefit be? nobody will enforce it and it will cost more to impliment than it will raise in revenue. I dont believe it will increase responsible pet ownership in the people that it needs to and I dont believe it will lessen the stray problem

Re: Pet licence for dogs

christinam — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:03:04 GMT

A lot of people do not abide by dog related law at the moment, so what is the point of introducing more laws for people not to follow??!!

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005

Under this Act, you could be fined up to £1,000 for breaching dog control orders. Local authorities can make orders for standard offences including: failing to remove dog faeces, not keeping a dog on a lead, not putting and keeping a dog on a lead when directed to do so, permitting a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded and taking more than a specified number of dogs on to land.

...........A prime example!!! Living in East london/ mixing into SE london it is rare to see a staffy type dog on a lead!!! (ps am a old staffy owner (RIP JJx) and a staffy foster mum x2 - so not staffy prejudice)

Can't help but think that like when the last DD act was passed it is going to be a last minute panic that affects innocent dogs and owners!!

Re: Pet licence for dogs

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:53:52 GMT

I used to work at a welfare kennels and we would turn away people because both mum and dad worked all day, but the scummy folks (sorry if I offend) that didn't work at all... and when you spoke to them about pet insurance would say "aww dont worry we'll get free treatment at the PDSA" were given dogs.... I'm not saying that these dogs weren't loved by the people that took them on, it just felt a bit crappy seeing a family want to adopt a rescue dog and leave saying "we'll just go get a puppy from a breeder"... it might not answer the question asked, but it's just another way to look at it...

Re: Pet licence for dogs

Katie Mansfield — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:36:26 GMT

Completely and utterly agree with Gemma. In fact I think they scrapped it in the first place cos it was unpolicable.

K x

Re: Pet licence for dogs

Gemma Burden RVN — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:33:58 GMT

I've seen no end of letters in local papers about bringing back dog licences, and it seems that everyone seems to think that bringing it back will suddenly solve all of the problems associated with irresponsible dog owners and dangerous dogs. In reality I can't see that it will do anything other than be another expense for responsible dog owners. Introducing a licence is never going to stop someone owning a status dog, having an aggressive dog or any other other things they are supposedly going to stop. As with a lot of things, those causing the problems will probably never get a licence in the first place and the concequences of this probably will do nothing to deter them either.

Re: Pet licence for dogs

Katie Mansfield — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:25:39 GMT

I know Dogs Trust are in favour and they have a consultation type thingie going on - check out their website.

Personally I don't think it should be just for dogs if it is ever brought back. Having said that, i think I'm a bit militant when it comes to things like this. (I'd bring back hanging for anyone who mistreated an animal). I'd like to see the legal age of ownership raised to 21 and a kind of test people had to undertake and pass before they could buy a pet, a bit along the same lines as the driving test. I'd also like all breeders (even one-off "accidental"breeders) needing a licence to sell / home animal babies and every animal needing a microchip, ID papers, insurance and vaccination (if appropriate) by law. This will never happen, even in part, though, and I think that's sad.

K x