Legal responsibilities as a dog owner

Your dog must wear a collar

Your dog must wear a collar, showing your name and address, when in a public place (even if the dog is tattooed or microchipped).

You must clean up your dogs mess

You must clean up your dog's mess. If you fail to pick up and dispose of your dog's mess, you can be prosecuted with a fixed penalty of £100 or a maximum court fine of £1000 and a criminal record. 

Your must keep your dog under control

• It is an offence for your dog to be 'dangerously out of control' in a public place
• If your dog causes injury or damage to a person, property or livestock, you may have to pay compensation
• You can be prosecuted if your dog is a nuisance to your neighbours, with a maximum fine of £5,000
  
  our dog must be microchipped

All dogs must be microchipped. You will be fined up to £500 if you fail to microchip your dog.