Take action for dogs in England!

Microchipping alone is not enough...

While the Westminster Government's announced measures aimed at tackling irresponsible dog ownership are a step in the right direction, the RSPCA is concerned that there is still much more that needs to be done to truly tackle the tidal wave of abused and abandoned dogs. The measures do not include any preventative measures and will not make owners more responsible or ensure fewer dog bites to people or other animals.
 

Sign the petition below urging the Government to:

• Ensure that compulsory microchipping includes a registration scheme which legally ties dog to owner and make it an offence to not microchip or to fail to update details upon change of 'ownership'

• Place more emphasis on prevention and early intervention, such as dog control notices. Early intervention could prevent suffering to animals, as well as protect public safety where there are concerns over owners failing to control their dogs.

• Some dogs spend years in kennels while their fate is being decided through the judicial system. These measures do little to tackle the plight of these dogs. Enforcement bodies should be given greater discretion on the need to seize dogs in the first place and where dogs must be seized, deadlines on behavioral assessments should be set to reduce the welfare impact of kennelling on dogs.

• Recognise that any dog, regardless of their breed or type can be dangerous in the wrong hands and commit to the abolition or phasing out of breed spesific legislation (BSL).