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 There are numerous UK laws that relate to dogs and dog ownership.
Animal Welfare Act 2006
Introduced in April 2007, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 repealed the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960. The new Act introduced a duty of care on owners to provide a suitable environment for their animals including permitting them the ability to display normal behaviour patterns, to provide them with a suitable diet, to provide them with protection from pain, suffering, disease and injury, and consideration of their housing needs. The Act increased the original penalites and introduced new penalties to deal with acts of cruelty, neglect, tail docking, mutilation and animal fighting, together with penalties for giving pets as prizes. Control of Dogs Order 1992
The Control of Dogs Order 1992 requires that any dog taken into a public place must wear a tag with the name and address of the owner clearly marked on it. Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999
This Act requires that any breeder who breeds four or more litters a year must be licenced by their Local Authority, and that any breeder for whom breeding dogs is a business must be licenced no matter how many litters they produce a year. The Act further requires that licensed breeders keep accurate records, do not sell a puppy below the age of eight weeks old unless it is to a licensed pet shop, do not mate a bitch who is less than 12 months old, do not produce more than six litters from any bitch, and do not whelp more than one litter from a single bitch in any 12-month period. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005
Under this Act, Local Authorities can impose fines of up to £1,000 for the likes of not keeping a dog on a lead or failing to put a dog on a lead when ordered to do so, failing to clean up dog faeces, allowing dogs onto land from which dogs are excluded or taking more dogs than are permitted onto restricted land. The Act also transferred responsibility for stray dogs from the police to Local Authorities via dog wardens, although at present, the police still have discretionary powers under the Dogs Act 1906 to seize stray dogs. Also under the 2005 Act, it is illegal to keep a stray dog without first reporting it to the police or Local Authority. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (Section 3)
This Act makes it a criminal offence for a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place and some other areas, including places where dogs are not permitted in the first place. Such seemingly innocent acts as a dog barking at, chasing or jumping up at a child or a person other than the owner can lead to a complaint. In the event of a dog injuring another person, that dog may be destroyed unless the owner can prove to the court that it is not dangerous but sadly in the case, a dog is considered guilty unless it can be proven otherwise. Also under this Act, the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and the Japanese Tosa are banned in the United Kingdom. Animals Act 1971
Under this Act, any dog owner can be liable for damage caused by their dog, for which reason it is advisable always to have at least third party liability insurance cover, something that is included as standard with most dog insurance policies. See Compare Dog Insurance for details of the cheapest UK dog insurance policies. The Road Traffic Act 1988
This Act makes it an offence for any dog to be on a designated road without it being on a lead. Within a vehicle, the Act states that any dog should not be allowed to distract the driver during a journey. Also under this Act, any driver who injures a dog must provide their contact details to the owner or report the matter to the police within 24 hours if no person is present with the dog at the time of the accident. Dogs Act 1871
This Act makes it a civil offence for failing to keep a dog under control (on a lead and/or muzzled), if that dog is considered dangerous. Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953
This Act places a duty of care on all dog owners not to allow their dog to chase or attack livestock on agricultural land. Under the terms of this Act, a farmer has the right under certain circumstances to shoot such a dog.
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