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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

I know it's not AIBU, but AIBU to wish the government....

46 replies

GinIsIn · 19/07/2017 13:29

Would bring back the dog license? Not a TAAT, but inspired by an awful, awful thread on here.

So many people just buy puppies on a whim off gumtree that it makes me feel ill. There are people who just shouldn't be allowed to own a dog.

OP posts:

KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 19/07/2017 13:31

I thought they had?

I agree. I knew someone who'd get puppies and get rid when they grew up.

It's grim.

toosexyforyahshirt · 19/07/2017 13:33

How would that help? There is a dog licence in my country, you just go and buy it. What does it change? Nothing.

and bad form because it is a taat.

LilCamper · 19/07/2017 13:35

They should do what Belgium has recently done and ban the sale of pets on the internet except for registered and approved breeders.

Original poster

GinIsIn · 19/07/2017 13:36

It is not a TAAT, it's a thread about many threads where people continually get puppies they aren't looking after. I would love for this to be a TAAT, because that would imply it was a unique or rare occurance!!

OP posts:

Eolian · 19/07/2017 13:37

I don't think it would make the slightest difference. Unless the license were very expensive, it wouldn't stop anyone from getting a dog. Even if it were very expensive, irresponsible arseholes won't be deterred unless they happen to be very low income irresponsible arseholes. People pay a lot of money for dogs. A bit extra for a license won't be a big deal.

Original poster

GinIsIn · 19/07/2017 13:37

I think the license would need to be a bit like taking the driving theory test - you'd have to sit an exam to prove you had a modicum of common sense and had at least read a book about dogs or googled before deciding to get one....

OP posts:

Original poster

GinIsIn · 19/07/2017 13:38

Lilcamper that's a brilliant idea!

OP posts:

LilCamper · 19/07/2017 13:39

Switzerland has a course that new owners must attend before they get a pup.

PoppyPopcorn · 19/07/2017 13:42

The old dog licence was only about £2 and pointless. As with everything, responsible dog owners would pay the licence and get their dogs chipped, irresponsible owners wouldn't bother.

BLUEsNewSpringWatch · 19/07/2017 14:32

They should do what Belgium has recently done and ban the sale of pets on the internet except for registered and approved breeders.

Switzerland has a course that new owners must attend before they get a pup.

We should definitely do those things here. Especially the test - I've been saying for years that you should have to pass a test on basic care and behaviour in that species of animal, in order to own that species. Also that breeders should have to be licensed to breed (and getting that license should be dependent on you being able to show a good understanding of the species, genetics, health issues and keeping the dogs in good conditions and not over breeding).

Flippetydip · 19/07/2017 14:34

Yes, I did put this on AIBU about a year ago - and was resoundingly told I wasn't BU so no, neither are you.

There are unscrupulous breeders and thoughtless owners and seemingly more and more dogs around. It needs some sort of controls put in place.

PoppyPopcorn · 19/07/2017 14:39

How do you enforce the controls though? As I said before, crappy owners won't get a licence and will just carry on being crappy owners.

thesleepingdogsarelying · 19/07/2017 14:46

poppy - if the cost of a licence is at a realistic level, then it could pay for dog wardens. I think it should be at something like £150 per annum for neutered dogs and £1000 for unneutered dogs. Nobody needs an unneutered pet IMO- maybe a discount if your dog comes from a rescue centre. I also like the idea of banning the sale of pets on the internet and tighter controls on breeding.

pigsDOfly · 19/07/2017 14:50

Yes, a great deal more control over how dogs are sold and who is allowed to breed them and sell them would help. The course sounds like a good idea and, I imagine would put a stop to people buy dogs on a whim.

Can't see a dog licence on it's own making much difference though. Dogs are all supposed to be chipped now but lost dogs are still turning up without chips. If people don't want to bother they won't. No one is enforcing the chip law, can't see it would be any different with a licence.

The problem with trying to implement any sort of control however, is having the resources and will to enforce it and I don't think either are available.

BLUEsNewSpringWatch · 19/07/2017 14:59

pigs You can make a system like that pay for itself. It would need to be set up like other regulatory bodies such as General Medical Council - it runs off the money people have to pay them to be allowed to work as a Doctor. So it regulates the progression using the fees those who want to be able to work in it pay.

BLUEsNewSpringWatch · 19/07/2017 15:01

sleeping I totally disagree re the neutering point though. There are lots of reasons, other than breeding, for why some dogs are kept entire.

JustCallMeKate · 19/07/2017 15:13

I agree OP sometching needs to be done. DH is a vet and the things I've seen are absolutely awful. Some people don't have a clue when they buy puppies and a thread on here this morning enraged me. You'd be surprised at the amount of people that come in and ask for puppies to be euthanised as they've 'snapped' at children. We have a list of reliable rescue centres we use to save the poor things being put to sleep and have a decent chance of being rehomed. We also have lots of people that come in for advice after buying dogs off gumtree that have been passed from pillar to post. It's heartbreaking! I like the Belgium and Switzerland approaches.

silkybear · 19/07/2017 15:20

Yes there should be a whole days training course on how hanging poo bags on trees makes you a total cunt

Original poster

GinIsIn · 19/07/2017 15:26

Right - this is all going on my list for when I'm PM....

OP posts:

toosexyforyahshirt · 19/07/2017 15:34

So basically you are arguing that only rich people should have dogs.

JustCallMeKate · 19/07/2017 15:37

So basically you are arguing that only rich people should have dogs.

I haven't seen anyone saying that on this thread. What I have seen is people agreeing there needs to be stricter controls on who owns dogs and that people attend a course to own one.

toosexyforyahshirt · 19/07/2017 15:46

Of course they have. They are saying that you should only be allowed a dog if you can afford to pay for what would have to be a very expensive course.
Ergo, only people with plenty of money are allowed a dog.

paddypants13 · 19/07/2017 15:49

I think it should be the law that unless you are a registered breeder your animal must be neutered. I also agree that there should be a ban on advertising pets for sale unless you are a registered breeder.

BloodWorries · 19/07/2017 15:54

I've thought about this before. But to whose standards would things be taught. Whose methods would be taught?

When we have people still spouting the Cesar Millan rubbish and fully believing it would that have to be an accepted way of training as many qualified dog behaviourists use these methods still. Or would be let a body such as the APDT or similar take over and only use 'new' 'kind' methods?

I'd personally love it. And I'd happily factor in any cost into what is already an expensive addition to the family. I personally don't think people should have dogs that cannot afford insurance or pay out for damages caused by their pets and pay for vet treatment.

BloodWorries · 19/07/2017 15:57

And with being neutered or not is quite similar to training methods.
Many are for all pet dogs being neutered, or only having registered breeders have intact dogs. But who is going to check up on this, and where are the breeders going to be registered?
Also many (including myself) don't think dogs should be neutered until fully grown/sexually mature. Who will set the age by which they need to be done.
Others believe a dog should never be neutered, what about their beliefs.

Don't want to derail the thread but it's very similar to people being pro/anti vax (with pets as well as kids). Imposing rules on this will go against someones belief. And whilst with dogs I believe I am firmly right that doesn't mean that I am actually right, and even my beliefs will change with time as we learn new things.

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