There are over twenty pieces of legislation related to dogs and dog ownership in the UK. They cover issues such as:
- Identification (microchipping and wearing a collar and tag)
- Animal welfare
- Making sure your dog doesn't cause a public nuisance (barking and fouling)
- Keeping your dog under control
- Breeding, buying and selling animals
If you're a dog owner
Read the Blue Cross guide to UK dog laws, to make sure you know your responsibilities, and what may happen if you break the law.
Report a dog-related problem
Use the guide below to find out how to report some of the most common dog-related issues. Select any topic for more detail, and who to contact.
Call Council Connect on 01225 477 551 and ask for our Dog Warden Service if you want to report:
- a lost dog
- a stray dog which you have caught and contained
| Days | Times |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 8.30am to 5pm |
| Friday | 8.30am to 4.30pm |
| Weekends | Closed |
As well as collecting stray dogs and reuniting them with their owners, the Dog Warden Service aims to do the following:
- Support dog owners to recognise their responsibilities, and comply with the law
- Protect the public from the results of irresponsible dog ownership, such as straying dogs
- Enforce legislation on microchipping, straying and dog fouling (which includes giving out fines)
If you think that someone is neglecting an animal, or treating it cruelly, you can report this to the RSPCA. This includes:
- Leaving dogs in cars on hot days
- Failing to feed, shelter or treat an animal correctly
- Failing to get medical help for a sick animal
- Illegal surgery such as tail docking (see exemptions) and ear cropping
- Using dogs for illegal activities or sports (such as poaching, fighting or hare coursing)
- Abandoning an animal, or leaving it alone for an unreasonable amount of time
- Breeders who are unlicensed, or failing to provide appropriate facilities and conditions for breeding animals safely and humanely
You can also contact the Police for any of the issues above, or if a dog is involved in a road accident. If you hit a dog with your vehicle, you must inform the Police within 24 hours.
Call on 101 to report longer-term animal welfare issues, or on 999 if it is an emergency.
The Dog Warden Service doesn't deal with these issues of cruelty and neglect.
Call the Police on 999 if you see a dog acting in any of these aggressive or dangerous ways:
- you think the dog may attack a person or another dog
- a guard dog is out of control
- a dog is worrying or harming livestock on farmland
If the noise of a persistently barking dog is causing a nuisance, you can report this to our Environmental Protection team.
If the dog is barking repeatedly over a long period, it may be neglected or distressed. You may also want to report this to the RSPCA.
If you see someone failing to pick up their dog's mess, you can report this to us online. Our Dog Warden may issue a fine to the owner.
If you see a dead dog (or other large animal) on a road or in a public space, let us know. We can remove it, and assess if there is any danger to public health.
If the animal is in a location that might cause an accident or danger to people (such as in the middle of the road), please report this as an emergency.
It is against the law in the UK to own a dog of one of these breeds:
- Pit bull terrier
- Japanese tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Braziliero
Read about new legislation adding the Bully XL to this list of banned breeds, and how to prepare for this.
If you think a dog is a banned breed, you can call the Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.