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Contents & Summary
1. Introduction
2. Cruelty to Dogs
2.1. Manifest Cruelty
2.2. Cruelty by Neglect
2.2.1. Stray Dogs
2.2.2. Identifying Stray Dogs
3. Proposals
3.1. Creation of a Database
3.2. Breeding Establishments, Licensed Breeders and Dog Husbandmen
3.3. Administration of an Identification Scheme
Summary
It is proposed that all dogs be permanently identifiable in order to reduce the deprivation and stress suffered by strays and to reduce the burden on local authority resources.
1. Introduction
The Canine Crisis Council (CCC) is concerned with improving the laws relating to the control of dogs in public places for the benefit of communal health and safety. These aims are consistent with good health and welfare of dogs. The proposals relate to all UK dogs.
2. Cruelty to Dogs
2.1. Manifest Cruelty
The number of cases reported in 1997 by the RSPCA for manifest cruelty to animals, predominantly dogs, seems to have peaked at 1,092 - less than the number of cases investigated. Subsequent figures show little decline. Various estimates of numbers of stray and abandoned dogs are published by other organisations, leaving no doubt of the scale of the phenomenon.
2.2. Cruelty by Neglect
2.2.1. Stray Dogs
It could be argued that the widespread publicity given to dog rescue organisations has created a climate where consciences are salved by the knowledge that an abandoned dog will be picked up by 'someone' and cared for or destroyed. It is a cheap solution for dog owners, a cruel one for the dog, and an expensive one for the community. The stray dog problem and its scale have persisted over the years. 140,000 dogs were picked up annually in the UK in 1992, according to a Parliamentary answer in January 1994. The Dogs Trust (then NCDL) stated that in 2000 they cared for 12,000 dogs (10% of the total number of strays). Of these, 61% were re-homed and 17% returned to their owners. The National Dog Wardens Association (NDWA) and the NCDL in their joint report for 2001-2 estimated that 117,564 dogs were dealt with by local authorities (LAs). 11% were 'put to sleep'. 46% of the dogs were returned to their owners. Thus more than half the 117,000 stray dogs dealt with by LAs are not returned to their owners. They are simply dumped dogs.
2.2.2. Identifying Stray Dogs
Over the years, dealing with stray dogs by local authorities has been complicated by the difficulty of identifying a particular dog and its owner. Dog identification has now been well explored, culminating in the 2000 report of the Dog Identification Group, sponsored by DETR. It may be concluded from that report that there is now no technical obstacle to the implementation of compulsory implanting of microchips in dogs.
3. Proposals
3.1. Creation of a Database
Data sufficient for any dog above a specified age and its owner, to enable them to be identified, should be lodged in a central database or in regional interlinked databases. The data should include all previous owners and a legal definition of the dog's breed. The procedure should be integrated with any retained provisions of the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999.
3.2. Breeding Establishments, Licensed Breeders and Dog Husbandmen
Whether or not a dog is intended for disposal to another party, any person or organisation allowing a dog in their custody to mature beyond the specified age becomes the dog's husbandman by virtue of being the first person required to include that dog in the identity databases. Criteria for licensing breeders, and the fitness of their premises as breeding establishments, are beyond the scope of these proposals and are separate from any for a dog husbandman. The definition of a dog husbandman as above embraces both licensed and non-licensed breeders.
3.3. Administration of an Identification Scheme
It is proposed that the owner of any dog coming within the scope of the registration scheme be required to insure the dog with one or other of the organisations, to be approved by DEFRA, to provide insurance. The process should include permanent identification by insertion of a micro chip. Allowing a dog to become a stray should be an offence in law. This could be provided for by an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act 1990 where responsibility for seizure of stray dogs (Section 149) has been assigned to local authorities. This responsibility should continue, but there is no obligation for local authorities to administer dog welfare. The role of dog rescue charities will remain unchanged but they will not be debarred from taking on a contractor role. The apprehending of persons committing acts of cruelty to dogs will remain unaffected.
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