Karen Grindrod 01/02/2023 Karen Grindrod 01/02/2023

Your Dog and the Law

I went to a meeting hosted by Croydon Companion Dog Club with Tara Boswell, from the Croydon Council Dog Warden Service

It was a really interesting and informative meeting and I learnt a lot about how the law applies to dog ownership.

Your dog must have a collar and tag

A dog must wear a collar and tag stating the name and address of the owner when in a public place, an owner can be fined up to £5000 (yes, that is correct!) if the dog is found in a public place without a collar and tag with these details.

Your dog must be microchipped

Any dog over the age of 8 weeks should have a microchip. There’s a fine of £500 if a dog doesn’t have a microchip or if the dog is registered on a database that is not on the government’s list.

Remember to keep the details on the chip up to date so that if your dog does go missing there is a better chance of being reunited.

Sometimes the chip can move, it’s a good idea to check the chip every now and then to make sure it’s still in place. A vet, dog warden or dog rescue centre can do this for you.

Your dog must be on a lead

Dogs must be on a lead on all roads.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 applies to all dogs, no matter the breed, and covers a dog’s behaviour in both public spaces and private property including at home and in the garden.

It is a criminal offence to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control, the dog does not need to bite or injure someone to be deemed out of control. It may be that someone is worried it might injure them.

What is expected of dog owners

It’s good to know what is expected of us as dog owners. Training our dogs to stay close when out and about and to come back when called are great ways to reduce the likelihood of an untoward event.

If you need help with training, please fill in our contact form for a free 15 minute consultation.