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Original poster

To think they should bring back dog licenses

80 replies

trudynotmoody · 14/08/2023 16:12

I think most dog owners are responsible and careful, but having dog licences might at least make some people think twice before getting one. The money could be used for RSPCA vets for people who can't afford vets bills.

OP posts:
calmcoco · 14/08/2023 17:20

I think the chips should be more rigourously enforced and funding for dog wardens be re-established. I blame central government for cuts to local councils.

ntmdino · 14/08/2023 17:24

ExtraOnions · 14/08/2023 17:20

Irresponsible owners are the problem .. and the irresponsible ones won’t get a licence even if they are compulsory.

I think all dogs should be on leads in public places - only off the lead in your own garden, or identified dog exercise areas.

Chipping should be compulsory… plus a crack down on dodgy breeders - I am sure some dogs have behavioural issues because of traumatic starts in life.

Even as a full-on dog loon, I can't disagree with any of that.

Backyard breeders and puppy farms - there should definitely be a licence required. I believe there's some sort of certification for it, but it still allows BYBs to produce two or three litters per year without needing to declare anything, which is at least two too many in my view. Absolutely nobody should be breeding dogs unless they really know what they're doing, and unless the welfare of both the parents and the offspring is their primary concern.

Guiltyfeethavegotnorhythm0 · 14/08/2023 17:24

These threads always bring out the ' destroy all dogs' types.

newnamethanks · 14/08/2023 17:49

Pointless. 2 dog attacks on children reported today. One couple taking their 19, yes nineteen, huskies to park for exercise with their 3 month old baby. Baby killed by one of the dogs. Another child, 3 years old, half her face missing having been attacked and mauled by a pocket bully whatever that may be. Licences wouldn't make a jot of difference to the witless, stupid, arrogant and unthinking owners. Awful.

Tinkerbyebye · 14/08/2023 17:49

They didnt work before, they won’t now

sleepyscientist · 14/08/2023 17:50

ginghamstarfish · 14/08/2023 17:08

Good idea in theory, but impossible to police. Better to require ALL dogs to be muzzled and leashed in any public place, and owners having to maintain a suitable fence around their property. I can't believe how these fecking things are attacking and killing people every other day and no-one is doing anything about it. Personally I'd like to see them cease to exist, except perhaps for the very few useful working animals such as sniffer dogs, as they are not only utterly pointless and unnecessary but cause such problems to society, and are such a massive waste of resources.

How about we muzzle and leash all kids aswell lol whilst we are at it! Certain breed look like they need adding to the dangerous dog list but that's another incompetent government issue. Horse injure more people per year than dogs and more seriously!

newnamethanks · 14/08/2023 17:57

How many children were savaged and killed by horses last year?

Original poster
trudynotmoody · 14/08/2023 18:03

I didn't know that microchip was compulsory to be fair. But I do think something needs to be done to make dog owners realise their responsibilities and to raise some funds which could be spent on improving things. It's hard to say dogs always on leads in public because they do need exercise. But some are dangerous and owners seem to have zero accountability at the moment.

OP posts:
ExpressCheckout · 14/08/2023 18:09

I think a decent public/prime time TV campaign might be worth considering. I'm not an advertising guru, but something that calls out bad behaviour (of dog and owner) in a smart, savvy and memorable way - social shame and criticism is a strong motivator, more so than an unenforced chip or a licence.

newnamethanks · 14/08/2023 18:11

The husky owners, parents of their now dead baby, have a suspended sentence each. As far as I know they still have a super abundance of unnecessary pack animals they are proven to be unable to control. Hope they're all microchipped. That'll do it.

sleepyscientist · 14/08/2023 18:12

newnamethanks · 14/08/2023 17:57

How many children were savaged and killed by horses last year?

On average around 10 people a year are killed riding horses on roads never mind those hurt. That's before you add in jumping injuries and deaths, it's just not talked about! Our DS was bit by a dog when he was a baby, sadly the dog died of something else a few years ago. If you ask DS if we should get rid of his best friend who replaced him their would be tears because he loves her to bits.

Everything has risks including letting your kids pet someone else's dog

WhoWants2Know · 14/08/2023 18:19

I think I would be in favour of giving dog wardens more power and funding that through a fee to licence/chip the dogs and fines for antisocial or neglectful behaviour on the part of the owners.

So if you are caught with an unchipped dog, the dog is seized. Then there's a mandatory fine for having an unchipped dog, plus an additional fee if you want the dog back, plus the fee to now get it chipped, as well as a bill for boarding costs.

If your dog strays, fights, fouls, etc. then big fines for that too and confiscation if the owner doesn't sort it out.

I love dogs, but I think having one is a privilege and not a right. Shitty owners make dogs a danger or at best an inconvenience for others.

newnamethanks · 14/08/2023 18:33

So @sleepyscientist, how many children were savaged and killed by horses? You have failed to make that clear in what you appear to think is an answer to my question.

SaturdayGiraffe · 14/08/2023 18:41

Sure, but I think under a certain weight it’s not necessary. We don’t need to register Yorkies.

ActDottie · 14/08/2023 18:50

I have two dogs and I’m responsible they’re both insured, on vet wellness plan and chipped.

Why should responsible dog owners have to have yet another cost for having a dog?

calmcoco · 14/08/2023 18:50

SaturdayGiraffe · 14/08/2023 18:41

Sure, but I think under a certain weight it’s not necessary. We don’t need to register Yorkies.

We should register all of them. Nasty bites from Yorkies are not unheard of <bitter>.

vodkaredbullgirl · 14/08/2023 18:51

ActDottie · 14/08/2023 18:50

I have two dogs and I’m responsible they’re both insured, on vet wellness plan and chipped.

Why should responsible dog owners have to have yet another cost for having a dog?

Exactly, same here.

Checkcurtains · 14/08/2023 18:53

Do you really think the sort of dodgy people who bring up dangerous dogs would bother with a dog licence? Who would police it, especially when public services are so stretched it'd be low low priority?

Not only did it not work before but there is also a test case in horses. All horses have to be chipped and passports. Guess what? Loads aren't. It can't be enforced without £££ which no-one will stump up. It'd never be enough to fund vets bills for the needy.

Bring your head out the clouds

Floofydawg · 14/08/2023 19:06

The money could be used for RSPCA vets for people who can't afford vets bills.

If you can't afford vets bills then you shouldn't get a dog.

Floofydawg · 14/08/2023 19:07

Guiltyfeethavegotnorhythm0 · 14/08/2023 16:32

I certainly don't agree that other dog owners should fund other families that don't do forward thinking and buy a dog they can't afford . Why should other dog owners fund other people's lifestyle's . Can't afford a dog ? Don't get one .

You said it better than I did.

ntmdino · 14/08/2023 20:08

Floofydawg · 14/08/2023 19:06

The money could be used for RSPCA vets for people who can't afford vets bills.

If you can't afford vets bills then you shouldn't get a dog.

Simple - mandatory insurance (which includes legal fees etc).

No different to cars.

XenoBitch · 14/08/2023 20:44

The people saying that you should not get a dog if you can't afford vet bills. You do realise that people's circumstances can change.

Anyway, I don't see what difference having dog licenses would make to anything really.

meatbaseddessert · 14/08/2023 20:58

We have dog licenses in NZ. $160 a year. It is basically just a tax and does nothing for responsible ownership. Dogs have to wear a little bright disc in their collar. Plenty of people just don't pay it because who's checking?

It does pay for dog wardens, helps repatriate wandering or lost dogs and the various logistics for that and free poo bags at the beach. In theory it supposed to be able to identify poor owners and aggressive dogs due to there being a database but it's not hugely effective as all they have to go on is 'the dog was called fluffy and it was on x beach' which doesn't narrow it down much and relies on the dog being registered and close to their home (and a not very common name)

Guiltyfeethavegotnorhythm0 · 14/08/2023 21:06

XenoBitch · 14/08/2023 20:44

The people saying that you should not get a dog if you can't afford vet bills. You do realise that people's circumstances can change.

Anyway, I don't see what difference having dog licenses would make to anything really.

True people do lose jobs but I don't think payment to dog charities should be mandatory through dog licences . Should parents be made to pay to children's charities ?

ntmdino · 14/08/2023 22:20

Guiltyfeethavegotnorhythm0 · 14/08/2023 21:06

True people do lose jobs but I don't think payment to dog charities should be mandatory through dog licences . Should parents be made to pay to children's charities ?

Show quote history

Parents also don't tend to abandon their children on charities' doorsteps to the tune of 250,000 a year, or ask charities to pay for their children's healthcare (at least, not in the UK).