To think that people should need to have a licence in order to get a dog?

[Spryte]

The issuing of which would mean having taken a few classes to show they know what it entails and how to look after the animal properly/safely? Or something along those lines anyway...

YANBU

Having insurance/ micro-chipping/ spaying or neutering etc should also be compulsory

YANBU.... ah but wait Im wrong, whats wrong with people taking on 80kg hulks they cant afford to care for or control... its their right, surely :P

• unless the dog/bitch is a good example of the breed/ a good worker etc and health tests etc as carried out on both the dog and bitch before breeding

Idiots around here with huskies as they look nice, they walk the about 10mins a day then they are cooped up in flats (2 I know of) but there's loads of huskies about,

YANBU

YANBU. Sort of like a driving license.

Something needs to be done. Too many dogs in the rescues it breaks my heart.

Staffies are the main one which spring to mind, our local animal shelter is full of them

Yeah, I think they should for the first dog they own. Definitely.

YANBU

Could I add in a DNA database to identify dog poo culprits?

I agree but then people should also have a licence for having children. Neither is likely sadly.

lashingsofbingeinghere - lol

We used to have dog licences (UK). Don't know why they were discontinued.

Would it be too expensive to implement?

We used to have to have a licence many years ago ..... it was unworkable as those who were responsible dog owners got one whilst those that were not didn't.

Just like microchipping / collars / defleaing / vaccinating.......... responsible owners will do it and the rest wont. (That way when the dog is picked up as a stray or bites someone noone can prove who the dog belongs to so they will not be able to be prosecuted.)

Responsible owners will already be knowledgable or planning to go to puppy / dog training classes / vets to get info ..... licencing will not alter that.

My dogs ( both rescues) are spayed, insured, chipped, vaccinated, de flead and well trained ( and I clean up the dog poop) ......... I do not need a licence to make me get these things done lol

As to the breeding ......... good breeders do that already ... puppy farmers and casual breeders dont...... licencing will not change a thing sadly/

UK dog licenses discontinued

Yabu, responsible pet owners all ready have insurance, microchipped ect. It will be them footing the bill of licence fees where the useless feckers will not bother and still use breeders who are out to make a quick pound or two.

Northern Ireland has them. Anyone on MN like to comment on how much they cost and what impact they have?

Why, when any fool can have a baby? What makes dogs so special?

Statistically there are very few dog attacks and a license won't prevent neglect.

Frankly, stuff like this sounds expensive to implement and would just be a tax on the poor.

Added to which you can't even GET insurance for elderly animals - I have two uninsured rescue cats as they were too old when I adopted them (and one cat and one dog insured at £80 a month!)

Laurie if you are poor, why would you get a dog?? I don't get why its a tax on the poor.

I think it should be easier to prosecute for (mild!) neglect of animals etc and those people should have go on a course about how to care for them, which they can pay for. Then you don't have to do anything unless a vet or someone else thinks you are not caring for an animal properly.

I think you should also need to have a license to have a child...

Elderly people have dogs, that's why it's a tax on the poor.

When I got my 18 year old cat it cost me £25 to spay her and her full course of injections - minor operations like teeth cleaning now cost £450 - everything is much more expensive now.

Basically it can catch people out with elderly animals. It will also mean so many kittens and puppies will be euthanised. And people won't rescue as the cost would be prohibitive.

And it used to cost me £6 to insure my dog - it's now £60 a month.

This was not predictable 14 years ago - insurance has gone up massively. Bet there's loads of elderly animals being killed early because of lack of insurance for elderly owners

Not the case at all. In fact the elderly are often the most responsible owners (always exceptions!) - they usually understand that having a pet involves cost and if they want to have an animal they will have to make sacrifices in other areas. Older people are better able to manage the money they do have and be honest about what they cannot afford, allowing other options to be discussed. Absolute poverty is not normally the cause of an animals suffering or misbehaviour, its peoples choices with the money they do have, or failure to adequately research their choice of pet. Unfortunately all too often the people who are upset that they cannot afford things have recently purchased an animal, and failed to properly research the cost of the most basic items. I have several animals now that I am working. Previously I was not and would have loved a small pet, cat or dog, but I did not take one on because I did not have the resources to look after one. Sadly there are many who do. This group is in the majority in my experience and those who have an older animal who they took on and are since struggling to care for are fewer. And they have my sympathy.

Its also people unable to control their animals or know how to care for them that the original moan was about, rather than not afford them.