Dog Registration and Licensing

Policy: The Control of Dogs Order 1992 imposes a requirement for all dogs in a public place to wear a collar and tag identifying their owner.  However collars are easily lost or removed and PAC considers that the Order should be amended to require permanent identification by microchip or tattoo.  However PAC is against the reintroduction of a dog licence as it would be unlikely to benefit welfare.

Background: An annual survey of local authorities by Dogs Trust shows that almost 97,000 dogs were found as strays in 2008 but that only 15% were identifiable by microchip and that their owner could be contacted directly.  PAC considers that requiring permanent identification of dogs would significantly increase that proportion and that doing so would provide welfare benefits to the dogs and reduce costs to local authorities.

Microchips are already recognised as the preferred means of identification for dogs travelling abroad under the EU Rabies Regulations (the Pet Travel Scheme) and for legally docked dogs and racing greyhounds.  PAC considers it the most reliable means of identification and that compulsory permanent identification would also insist in identifying the owners of stolen dogs, and the owners when cruelty offences have been committed.