Being a dog owner comes with responsibilities, your dogs welfare is important, also the welfare of other people, their dogs and the environment in which we all live. As a dog owner we should understand what responsible dog ownership is.
Most of us have witnessed, either as dog owner or a non dog owner, “the irresponsible dog owner”, who allow their dogs to approach you in a public space. Then we hear those famous words ” don’t worry he is friendly” or “my dog won’t hurt you” I know from working in the dog behaviour industry, this irresponsible act is seen as negative and anti social and can cause a variety of problems, arguments and serious incidents.
Here begs the question, Who is in the wrong? Surely any dog owner can allow their dogs to run free in public places, approach who or whatever they want at anytime. Why should a dog owner be concerned, when their dog goes bounding towards someone? Who cares if that someone has a dog phobia? or a serious allergy to dogs?. Why worry if your dog has approached another dog on the lead. A dog that could be unwell, injured or suffer with anxiety problems.. If any of the above applies to you or your dog, you should stay home. How dare you go for a walk or cycle in a public place. How dare you take a nervous dog out for a walk, especially when there are off lead dogs just dying to approach you.
Is responsible dog ownership a thing of the past?
Since the Covid-19 pandemic dog ownership has increased exponentially. Figures show that there were around 9 million dogs registered in the UK in 2018/2019. This jumped to 13 million by the end of 2021 and 2022 still saw a rise in dog ownership. We can hypothesise people expected to be at home and would have more time to spend with their dogs. With an increase in ownership comes the natural assumption of a rise in irresponsible dog owners. Unfortunately this assumption is becoming more of a reality. But living in this politically correct world, shouldn’t all dog owners familarise themselves with the laws and the moral obligations they face. Responsible dog ownership is polite and fitting in today’s society.
Let us take a look at dog owners responsibilities from a legal and moral respect
There are over 30 Parliament acts in respect of dog laws and while I am not going to list them all, I would like to touch on the most important of them. It is also true that many dog owners will feel the consequences of these laws are not harmful enough to abide by. However ignoring them could land you in trouble at some stage of your dog ownership. We have on occasion had to stand witness to some cases involving dangerous/out of control dogs, it is something professional behaviourists find themselves doing a lot. There are law firms in the UK with solicitors that sole job is based around dog law. So it is unwise to close your eyes to your responsibilities.
Animal Welfare Act 2006
To summarise this there are five main points that need to be covered, it is up to dog owners to educate themselves with these rules so that you can provide responsible dog ownership.
- A need for a suitable environment
- A need for a suitable diet
- A need to be housed with or apart, from other animals.
- A need to be exhibit normal behaviour patterns
- A need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Control of dog order 1992
This is one of the laws that is perhaps more overlooked than any of the others, yet it is a criminal offence to not abide by the law and can lead to prosecution, fines and even imprisonment. With dog attacks reported in the UK on both people and other dogs this law will continue to be revised and policed far more in the future. The main points to note in this act are
- Dogs out in public need to have an external name tag, with the address and contact details of the owners. If your dog does not have this it can be seized as a stray. If you fail to do this the fines can be quite large. We recommend to all out clients to get this done, it costs under £5 to get a dog tag.
Public space protection order
The above order applies to many places in the UK and also apply to areas where signs clearly state the rules.
- Keeping your dog on a lead in public spaces (This includes, parks, bridal ways, beaches)
- Pick up your doggy doo after you.
- Keep your dog off land from which they are excluded
- Walking to many dogs (6 max)
Breaking these rules can lead to fines, and up to 6 months in prison. It is certainly worth paying attention to the local rules where you live. As mentioned earlier though, we have to look at things from a legal and moral stand point. You could be legally allowed to let your dog run free in a public park, but if you dog is not under your full control then is that morally the right choice to make. If your dog is off lead and runs towards a group of people, not intentionally approaching the group itself, but has to go between them to get to its target. Whether that is a ball, a squirrel, another dog or the wheels of a bike. As your dog is running by a child screams because they are afraid, it startles your dog, that then becomes more interested in the screaming child. As an owner you then shout your dog (recall) but it doesn’t respond, you call a 2nd and 3rd time but to no avail. Question; Is your dog under you control? or is it a menace to the family and the child? You need to look at this objectively and morally to come to your decision.
The environmental protection act 1990
- Dogs barking loudly and excessively
- Picking up your dogs faeces
The first of these can be really difficult not only for dog owners that just don’t know how to stop this, but also for the neighbours that have to put up with it. Generally speaking, people affected by a noisy dog, will have a conversation with the owners before going through any official channels. If you ignore the disgruntled neighbour, it could push them to request a noise abatement notice. It is always a good idea from a moral stand point to seek professional help. There will be a reason your dog is barking loudly and excessively, by working with a trained professional behaviourist, these problems can usually be solved quite quickly. As for not picking up poo after your dog, well it is an offence that can be met with a hefty fine but morally if you are one of those that thinks ” I can’t be bothered” you need to realise that is not responsible dog ownership.
The Dangerous dog act 1991
Believe it or not, this does not just applied to banned dogs such as the Pitbull and soon the XL Bully. This also applies to any dog from a Dachsund to a Cavapoo or a German Shepherd and anything in between. The main points of consideration here are
- Is your dog dangerously out of control in a public space, at home or in your garden.
- Does your dog jump up at others human or dog, even if over excited.
If your dog makes anyone feel they may be injured, then the law applies. Also if you dog jumps up at someone even in a moment of over excitement and injures someone, the law states that your dog can be taken away and then it is your responsibility to prove he or she is not dangerous. If you feel that any of these points apply to your dog, then you should seriously consider getting a professional behaviourist to help. The act also applies if your dog doesn’t have reliable recall. If your dog exhibits any form or reactivity or aggression to other dogs, animals or people. Breaking this law can lead to imprisonment, even if the dog is with a family friend or dog walker, the owner is still liable for the dog.
Road Traffic Act
Dogs should not be off lead on pavements where there are roads and cars present. We still see this law flaunted today and this is one of those areas where morals should be applied. It takes a split second for a dog to become alert of startled by something. I have personally witnessed this and a car driver with her baby had to emergency stop to avoid hitting the dog. It was scary to see and the outcome could have been a lot worse for dog or the car driver and her baby. Then there is the dogs travelling in cars law, this stated they should not cause a distraction and should be restrained with either a dog seat belt or in a crate. Dog that hang their heads out of the window from the passenger seat may look cute, but is this responsible ownership?
Educating ourselves when it comes to responsible dog ownership is fairly easy. There are many resources and guides to help us. It is inexpensive to take all the steps to being a good owner. If we all work together we can create a harmonious life for our dogs and the environment in which we live.
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