Dog ID tags - what exactly has to go on them BY LAW?

[PacificDogwood]

I am totally confused.
I read the tag needs to show name of the owner AND address - by law.

Just had one engraved and the Timpson guy (expert in the field because he once had a cat rescues by the RSPCA ) told me no, address does not need to go on

Our rescue grey is currently ID tagged as per the rescue he came from, also his microchip is still registered to the rescue, all of which I need to change tomorrow, so I'd quite like to know what exactly it is that I MUST do - obviously there's a whole other thread to be had whether his name should go on or not etc etc.

Has the law changed on 1.4. when microchipping became compulsory?!

Owners name, address - can be house number and post code, and telephone number.

Some people at our Good Citizens Bronze award failed for illegal tags as they listened to those who think they know rather than the trainer!

According to the Kennel Club [[http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/training/good-citizen-dog-training-scheme/information-for-dog-owners/dog-identification-tags/ here]

Every dog while on a public highway or place of public resort must wear a collar with the name and address of the owner inscribed on it or a plate or badge attached

My dog has our name, address and phone number on his tag.

Oops, cocked up link

here

Oh thank you, that's exactly what I thought! And have just spent £3.99 for

That's a UK wide law, right? Not depending on where you live?

Yes, it's the whole of the UK.

It's The Control of Dogs Order 1992.

It will also be compulsory for micro chipping from next year too

Great.
Thanks

Hmm, I have my address and number and my dogs name.

Why does my name need to go on?

Is that really the law that the owners name needs to be on there...?

Oh! Ours just have our surname and h's mobile number. No one has ever said that we needed house number and post code.

Guess I'm buying new tags tomorrow.

ours has our name, dog name, address, home phone, mobile phone

is that really the law that the owners name needs to be on there?

yes, 'fraid so

Ours have two tags each with engraving on both sides.

The first has:

Our surname
Our house number and road name
Our postcode
My mobile number
DH's mobile number

The second has:

"I'm microchipped"
The name of our vet practice
Vet's postcode
Vet's phone number

I like to cover all eventualities

Required by law is the owner's name, address and postcode. Oddly not the telephone number, but that's crazy so I would include that too, for obvious reasons.

As a house number and postcode are all that is needed to specify an entire UK address, it is perfectly acceptable to put that and your surname.

As mentioned, your telephone number is optional but advisable.

So something along these lines covers all the legal requirements and more:

Mr J Bloggs
No 32, PE25 6DH
01366 666666

If you have extra room for more engraving, I suggest also adding:

I've Been Chipped

If your dog is microchipped. Or add any major health issues e.g.

I am deaf

etc...

I don't put HullyGullys name on. Just house number, street, post code, mobile and Microchipped.

I think how much you can get on depends on the size of the dog, as littlies can't wear a tag big enough for more than the legal requirements.

Mine are both big dogs, ddog 1 has a slider tag that is securely fixed to the leather of his collar and includes:

His name + our surname
house number, street name, postcode
landline
mobile phone number 1 (mine)
moblile phone number 2 (dh's)
microchipped (UK)

He then has a traditional type hanging tag, with:

his name + our surname
house number, street name, postcode
landline (I figure if he got lost at least we'd get an answer-phone message that way)
Vet: vet's phone number
Microchipped (UK)

Ddog2 just has a double sided hanging tag that includes:

Front:
his name + our surname
house number, street name, postcode
landline
microchipped (UK)

Back:
mobile phone number 1 (mine)
moblile phone number 2 (dh's)
Vet: vet's phone number

He will be getting a slider tag too when I change his collar shortly.

The reason I like to do both is having worked in a rescue centre, we used to get quite a few dogs in that had the split ring, but no tag attached to their collar, so the slider tag is back-up just in case they snag the hanging tag and it gets lost. Sighthounds can cover a lot of ground and run through all sorts of hedges and ditches, so I prefer a belt and braces approach to their id tags. Also, most people would look for a hanging tag first and may miss a slider tag under their thick fur.

I always try and fit the street name on if I can too, as when our old girl got out of the garden - typically the one time she was collarless after having a neck operation - she was found in the park immediately behind our house, but they didn't know where she lived, so took her home and called the dog warden. I always think, if she'd had her collar on she'd have been home in minutes had it said both the house number and street name.

We don't put our name or address on police advise not to due to blackmail. So our tags are illegal

Dogs name
Vets
Our postcode

Other side is im chipped

I don't put my dog's name on as I worry that if someone calls her by name she's more likely to go off with them, and I'm not happy about putting my name on, so my dog's tag is probably illegal as well.

It has my address and both my mobile and land line number, which is all the information needed surely.

Dogs name is not advised as it can be used to encourage your dog away from you by law. Also can be used by dog thieves to pass your dog off to unsuspecting purchasers as the dog recognises their name.
The fine for incorrect dog tag is £5K and I have recently heard of dog wardens enforcing it.
You will need both a tag and a microchip from April 2016. The fine for not having a chip will be £500.

I never knew these were required by law. Mine just says 'Tyson 07xxxx'

My dogs obviously. Not mine. When is this starting? or has it always been the case

Owner's name, address and postcode are compulsory. The maximum penalty for non-compliance is £5000

It's a good idea to have a owner contact number, vet practice number and 'I am ID chipped' but not a legal requirement. I don't put the animal's name on mine this does mean my cat has a different name to each of the many old ladies he visits

Since 1992 cassie
Compulsory miscrochipping comes in next year, but will not alter the tag requirement.

Oh dear. Tyson is 7. Better late than never. He is micro chipped tho. We are mildly responsible dog owners

I can't believe no one has ever mentioned this.

Ok.
I think we have established what the law says… - is now the time to confess that the engraver put the wrong postcode on my brand-new tag and I did not notice until today??

We have Mutts name and my phone number embroidered on her collar because she constantly loses tags. Her current tag has "I am microchipped" and our house number and postcode.

(Although I pretty sure the chip will direct to the Rescue Centre rather than us, I can't remember if we ever changed it. I'd better check that out)

I can see the argument for including the dog's name making it easier for dog thieves to sell the dog on, but I can't see how they could 'entice' it away from you using the name on their tag. Surely if it's far enough away to need enticing they wouldn't be able to read the tag anyway?