Tackling irresponsible dog ownership

Defra sought views on a proposed package of measures aimed at tackling irresponsible ownership of dogs. The main proposals:

• Extending the criminal offence of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control to private property (where the dog has a right to be);
• Compulsory microchipping of dogs;
• Removing the need to seize and kennel all dogs where court proceeding are pending; and
• Increase the fee for placing a dog on the Index of Exempted Dogs

The proposals, along with other work we are already carrying out, provide  a mix of preventative, educational and punitive measures which are designed to tackle a variety of problems (e.g. allowing dogs to become dangerous, status dogs, allowing dogs to stray and general irresponsible ownership leading to poor welfare and anti-social behaviour).

Further information

• Dangerous dogs
• News release
• Written Ministerial Statement (PDF)