Thursday 7 June 2012

Defra Public Consultation-Dogs & the Law

There is still time to have your say on the Defra Public Consultation 2012

This is a public consultation which was launched on the 23rd April 2012 and ends on 15th June 2012.

In April the government announced a package of proposals which they support to ‘tackle irresponsible dog ownership’.

The last Government held a public consultation on the issue of ‘dangerous dogs’ two years ago (full details on our web site.

The current government plans to introduce new measures, some of which will affect all dog owners in England, including

Extending the criminal offence of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control to private property (where the dog has a right to be);

•Compulsory micro-chipping of dogs;

•Removing the need to seize and kennel all dogs where court proceeding are pending; and

•Increase the fee for placing a dog on the Index of Exempted Dogs


How you can respond:

Anyone may reply to this consultation. Defra would like to hear from anyone with an interest in responsible dog ownership, including: enforcement agencies; people working with dogs; animal welfare organisations; dog keeping organisations; and the general public.

Responding Online:

You can complete the survey on-line at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/dogsconsultation2012
(This survey does not collect any personal data.)

Responding by Email:

Alternatively, you can e-mail your response to: animalwelfare.consultations@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Responding by Post:

You may also send your comments, or any requests for copies of the documents, by post to:
Dangerous Dogs Team
Animal Welfare
Area 8B, 9 Millbank
c/o 17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR

Any comments on the proposals in this consultation document need to be sent in by 15 June 2012.