In 2006, the Animal Welfare Act was passed into legislation in UK. This Act was based on the Richard Martin Act of 1822 that was passed to prevent cruel or improper treatment to cattle, the first animal welfare legislation in the world. The 2006 Act included other earlier acts like the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925, the Pet Animals Act 1951, Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963, the Breeding of Dogs Act 1991, etc.

Earlier, the Companion Animal Welfare Council or CAWC was established in 1999 as an advisory body on all aspects of companion animal welfare. The department of environment, food & rural affairs or Defra works in close coordination with the CAWC in ensuring the safety and proper care of pets in the country.

As a dog or cat owner, you should abide by the important provisions of pet care laws in UK. These laws identify pets as ‘companion animals’ or all the species that are kept by humans as companions. We have listed some of the main stipulations here briefly for your benefit.

Pet Identification

According to the Control of Dogs Order 1992 and other related laws, all privately owned dogs, cats and other pets must wear a collar that displays the name and address of the owner. This information can be inscribed on the collar or in a disc that is attached to the collar. If your dog strays and is caught by the authorities, then you should claim it within 7 days. Otherwise, the dog can be sold or destroyed by the authorities under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Most of the owners of pets use the technology of microchipping nowadays for easy identification. The microchip information is usually stored on a national database and identification of the owner becomes quite easy.

Control of Pets

Unmussled and ferocious pets should not be left at large on their own or be used to attack or terrorise humans or other animals. This is an offence under the UK laws. Owners found guilty of letting the pets out without control can be fined or imprisoned. The UK laws also restrict the walking of dogs to certain areas and impose the responsibility of cleaning up the faeces on the owners. Failing to comply can result in a fine.

Proper Animal Care

According to the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the owners of pets must ensure that they are provided appropriate environment, suitable diet is extended to them regularly and are protected from injury, disease, pain or other type of sufferings. Abandoning pets, selling them to minors below the age of 16, arranging dogfights, tail docking, etc. are considered offences under the present set of UK laws.

If you wish to know all the details of the UK pet care laws, you can have a free discussion with our experts and they will be glad to help you on all aspects of the pet laws, including the fine prints that are missed by many. You have to remember that ignorance of law is not accepted as an excuse by any court.