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Roads
Every dog owner must take reasonable care to stop dogs straying on to a road.
Collar and Lead
When a dog is on a highway or in a public place, it must wear a collar with a tag that has the name and address of the owner, even if it also has a microchip.
A Council can designate particular roads where a dog must be kept on a lead.
Microchipping
We recommend that you get your dog microchipped by your vet. This involves putting a very small microchip under the skin of the dog. Putting the chip in place only takes a few seconds and is quite painless. If the dog gets lost, it can be scanned electronically for the chip number. The registering company can then supply details of the owner's name and address.
|Dog Fouling
If a dog makes a mess on a road or footpath, recreation ground or public area, the mess must be cleared up.
It is an offence, under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, for an owner not to clear up after allowing their dog to foul in undesignated areas such as a public footpath. The maximum fine for failing to clear up after a dog is £1000.
If you would like further information on dog fouling, or know of a dog fouling problem, please contact |Environmental Care.
If a dog is not wormed regularly, the eggs of the parasite Toxicara canis can be left on the ground after the mess has gone. This parasite can infect humans and can cause blindness. You should take advice from your vet on the regular worming of your dog.
Barking Dogs
We receive numerous complaints every year about noise from barking dogs.
If you own a dog, please try to make sure your dog does not cause a problem.
If you are affected by noise from barking, please go and see the owner and discuss the problem with them. It may be possible to change the dog's routine or train it not to bark. For further information see our |Barking Dogs advice page.
Dangerous dogs
The police can do nothing about an aggressive dog unless it was dangerously out of control in a public place. If this is the case, proceedings can be taken under Section 3 of the |Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, and you should attend your local police station.
Sheep and other Livestock
Dogs of any breed should not be allowed to roam unattended in any enclosed land that is being used for livestock. At all times they should be on a lead or close by and under control.
A dog is considered to be 'worrying' livestock if it chases, attempts to chase, attacks or attempts to attack livestock. A dog can also be regarded as 'worrying' livestock merely by being off a a lead or not under close control in a field or enclosure where there are sheep. Dogs caught worrying sheep are liable to be shot, even though farmers are reluctant to do this except as a last resort, and their owners liable to prosecution and heavy costs.
Trespassing dogs
Dogs of any breed should not be allowed to roam unattended in any enclosed land that is being used for livestock. At all times they should be on a lead or close by and under control.
A dog is considered to be 'worrying' livestock if it chases, attempts to chase, attacks or attempts to attack. A dog can also be regarded as 'worrying' livestock merely by being off a lead or not under close control in a field or enclosure where there are sheep or livestock. Dogs caught worrying sheep are liable to be shot, even though farmers are reluctant to do this except as a last resort, and their owners liable to prosecution and heavy costs.
| Related Pages: |
| Stray animals |Animal Nuisance (A - Z ) |
| |Dogs (Lost and Stray) (Pages) |