Dog ownership

Improving dog ownership and welfare

Irresponsible dog ownership is a phrase we're using quite a bit at the moment – but what does it actually mean?

As a starting point, it means:

• eight deaths and 200 serious injuries caused by dogs in the last four years (2007 - 2010)
   
• 1,000 children admitted to hospital for dog-related injuries each year
   
• 6,000 postal workers injured by dogs every year.

It also means:

• more unwanted dogs taken to rehoming centres or abandoned by their owners
   
• huge numbers of injuries to dogs caused by their owners or by other dogs
   
• an increase in status dogs – used by their owners to look tough and for fighting.

And financially, it means a bill of around £75 million to the tax payer each year.

As dog lovers ourselves, it can be heart-breaking to have to deal with the fall-out when people don't look after or train their pets. That's why we need to take action.

Tackling irresponsible dog ownership

Under the Animal Welfare Act, every pet owner has a legal duty of care to meet the welfare needs of their pets.

This includes dog owners taking responsibility for their dog's behaviour and training.
 
We believe current dog laws are inadequate and urgently need updating to protect the public, worker safety and animal welfare.

Here are some of the changes we are proposing.

• Tighten up dog laws
  There are already laws around dog control, police powers, public safety and so on – but let's get them all working in the same direction.
   
• Breed Specific Legislation (BSL)
  Certain breeds, such as pit bulls, are illegal. But what good does this do? Dog owners are responsible for their pet's behaviour. Either abolish this law, or make sure dogs nor people suffer because of it. See our Q&A for more information:
  
  Breed Specific Legislation and other difficult questions Q&A (PDF 73KB)
   
• Private property
  People like postal workers need to be protected from badly trained dogs; but there must also be allowance for a dog protecting its owner at home.
   
• Permanent identification
  All dogs should have permanent identification, such as with microchipping, so that animals can be matched to their owners.
   
• Better funding
  By ensuring workers like dog wardens are funded, savings will be made in the long term.
   
• Education and engagement
  This is vital as a means of prevention and to encourage responsible dog ownership.

Help us tell the government to:
Clean up this dog mess!

Sign our online petition

In a unique move, 20 dog-related organisations including charities, vets, unions and the police have set up an online petition calling on the government to deliver on its assurances and overhaul dog laws.

We are urging the government to introduce new legislation in the Queen's 2012 Speech. 

We need at least 100,000 signatures

You can help by signing the petition and sharing it with your friends and family – if we get 100,000 signatures it may prompt a House of Commons debate.

Please sign and share the online petition today at:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22631
 

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Organisations behind the petition include: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, The Blue Cross, British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), British Veterinary Association (BVA), Communication Workers Union (CWU), Dogs Trust, GMB, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM), The Kennel Club, National Dog Warden Association (NDWA), Police Federation, Prospect, Royal Mail Group, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), RSPCA, UNISON, Union of Shop - Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw), Unite, Wood Green - The Animals Charity.