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Dog owners are being warned to ensure their pets are properly identified before heading out, or they risk facing a fine. According to the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), the UK’s leading veterinary charity, the law requires all dogs in public to wear a collar and ID tag containing specific information.
The legal requirement means that on their tag, they must have three crucial details. This includes the owner’s name and address – including postcode. This means just a name is not enough.
In addition to wearing an ID tag, the PDSA stresses that since 2016, it’s been a legal requirement across the UK to microchip dogs by eight weeks old. It’s also crucial to ensure contact details are kept up to date on a government-approved register.
Even if your dog is microchipped and not on a lead, they must wear a collar when outside. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to £500, as warned by GOV.UK.
In fact, even the police can enforce microchip laws. If your dog is found as a stray and scanned, you’ll have 21 days to microchip them before facing a penalty.
According to the charity, the laws in each country and different and are as follows:
- Control of Dogs Order 1992
- Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 in Northern Ireland
- Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015 in England
- Microchipping of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2015 in Wales
- Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016 in Scotland
Microchip warning
You must make sure that your dog or cat is registered on one of the following databases (they all meet government standards):
Gov.uk warn: “You’ll be asked for your address and contact details when you register your pet on one of these databases. You can be fined up to £500 if your dog or cat is not registered on one of these databases.”
