[Unicorn]

Was reading the post about the abandoned puppies in Scotland.

If all dog owners had the DNA as well as chip and pin on their pedigrees, or dog licence details, the police would be able to trace where the puppies were from.

Thinking about it though, the owner of the mother of those puppies probably doesnt even have a dog licence so that would probably not solve the problem either.

Lots of horrid people out there - some people just should not be allowed to have animals.

[Roxy]

dog licence?  Do you still need a dog licence?  No one I know has one (that includes me )

[doganjo]

No, the dog licence was costing more than it was taking in so it was dropped years ago.  If they started it up again you can bet it'll be about the same as cars - a few hundred maybe even.  There is a very sad mummy dog in Clackmannanshire somewhere.

[Unicorn]

You mean anyone can now own a dog and there are no licencing laws to trace
and record who has them?

We have to have a licence to keep dogs here, (Southern Ireland) and if you are a breeder, you have a different
licence, and can be checked that you are not a puppy farmer or mistreating animals by any
animal welfare service that wishes to call on you.

Is it just Scotland that doesnt do it anymore, or is there 60 million people over the sea that are keeping dogs and not being monitored

[doganjo]

Whole of the UK, I'm afraid.  Presumably Northern Ireland too, but I'm not 100% sure of that.  You are supposed to have a breeders licence if you have three or more bitches of breeding potential but it isn't policed or enforced.

[Unicorn]

That is pretty scary, you would think that they would make it part of the RSPCA's
job to collect the licence money, and cover the costs of collection through the licence, then at least they
would have the records, no wonder there all over run with strays.   

It costs a small fortune to train, distribute, give transport to and employ their staff, and then employ vets or pay vets in each location, no wonder they need more money to cope - it is a ridiculous position to leave not only their service in, but the poor dogs out there that are being dumped and abused by god knows who

Typical Government - Bury their head in the sand and make cutbacks without thinking out the consequences or how it could be alternatively managed - leaving it to charity - next they will do the same to children, and it will be like China - abandoning little girls in the woods because they can only have one child - and want a boy

What is the world coming to.

[Rosemary]

I've thought for a long time that with technology as it is now, it woudl be realtively simple to introduce a dog licence. When it was abolished, the dog licence was 37 1/2 p ie 7s6d. It would have to be a bit more than that now - maybe there could be reductions if the dog is neutered, is insured or if the owner is,say, an OAP.

It's too easy to have a dog and not take care of it. Mind you, the same applies to having children.

[Rosemary]

Not sure the RSPCA / SSPCA would be th right people to do it. Probably woudl fall to local authorities. Most stuff like that does.

[Unicorn]

This is the situation in Ireland

It is an offence to keep a dog in Ireland unless you have a dog licence.
In order to obtain a dog licence in Ireland , you must be over 16 years of age.
Dog licences are issued by your post office or your local authority and at March 2006 cost only €12.70 euro a year or €253.95 for multiple dogs.

All dogs over four months must have a licence. Puppies under four months who are still with their mothers don't require licences but once they leave their mothers they must have a licence.
Your dog must be accompanied by and be under your effective control or the control of another responsible person if it is outside your home or premises or the home or premises of the person in charge of it.

You can be requested by a dog warden to produce evidence of your dog licence and failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine of €30.
This isn't much of a penalty - and many dog owners in Ireland don't bother with a licence. Failure to pay a fine within a specified period can result in prosecution by your local authority.

Licences are not required for dogs in the possession of the County Council, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Gardai, blind persons' guide-dogs, and any dog imported into the State for less than 30 days.
The revenue from dog licences finances the operation of dog control services in local areas throughout the country

That is why I can't see it being a problem for the government to authorise the RSPCA as licence managers on their behalf to help towards their costs - you obviously do not have dog control services in each area as we have.

[doganjo]

RSPCA in the UK are numptys, wouldn't want them running anything - pSSSSSSS ups in breweries come to mind

[Unicorn]

Well in that case, do you have to microchip all puppies.

We have to microchip all Pedigree Puppies, as you cannot register them with the Irish Kennel Club
unless they are chipped.

I have been an IKC member for 15 years, and at first didn't like the idea of chipping, but my little
Ruby went missing two months ago, and I got her back because she was chipped -


the system works and I am all for it - in animals - not humans.

Again, silly me, it will not pick up un-registered non pedigree animals will it?

[doganjo]

Nope, don't have to microchip either.  Mine are all chipped though.  Pups are too young to be chipped at 8 weeks in my opinion anyway.  I tattoo mine at 6 weeks.  Anyone in the UK can breed any dog to any other dog and don't have to register them in any way whatsoever.  Loads of mongrels - oops sorry, designer dogs - being bred and sold for twice the price of pure breds.

If you breed properly it doesn't make any money, or at best forced saving.  My bitch will be on premium food and weekly vet checks from about 4 weeks, worming regime for her and pups, vitamins etc, pups will be individually certified by the vet if any are bobtailed, disposable whelping box to be used once only,registration with the KC, tattooing, call out rate with the vet if anything goes wrong, etc etc  I'm only doing it to better the breed and let my friend have a brood bitch to carry on the dual working and show lines.  I might keep a pup if there is one I like. My new owners all get a year's membership of the Breed Club, a lead and a toy for the pups, sample food bag fro three days, a photo of the mountain they are named after, and an illustrated and signed 6 generation pedigree

[little blue]

Typical Government - Bury their head in the sand and make cutbacks without thinking out the consequences or how it could be alternatively managed - leaving it to charity - next they will do the same to children, and it will be like China - abandoning little girls in the woods because they can only have one child - and want a boy

What is the world coming to.

Wooah, steady on there!!
Actually, I agree, the regs on breeding, registering and selling on dogs and other animals in this country are completly backward.
Our German Shepherd is a pedigree, she was chipped... and then neglected and abused by her owners and went to  a rescue centre. (where she had to be separated from the other dogs cos they scared her  - she stopped eating)
 When we had her, she'd missed her 2nd dose of puppy injections so we've had to do them again, she had no proper socialisation, we dont know her hip scores/parentage or anything, she's nervous agressive outside the house, terrified of older people, buses, bags, sticks etc etc
But she's a great house dog, and we wouldnt change her for the world.

Why should irresponisibe 'breeders' and those who cant be bothered to have their animals neutered be allowed to let them procreate when rescue centres (and my house!) are bursting at the seams with abandoned and abused animals?
(even my husband is adopted!)

[/img]

[Hardfeather]

This is the situation in Ireland

It is an offence to keep a dog in Ireland unless you have a dog licence.
In order to obtain a dog licence in Ireland , you must be over 16 years of age.
Dog licences are issued by your post office or your local authority and at March 2006 cost only €12.70 euro a year or €253.95 for multiple dogs.

All dogs over four months must have a licence. Puppies under four months who are still with their mothers don't require licences but once they leave their mothers they must have a licence.
Your dog must be accompanied by and be under your effective control or the control of another responsible person if it is outside your home or premises or the home or premises of the person in charge of it.

You can be requested by a dog warden to produce evidence of your dog licence and failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine of €30.
This isn't much of a penalty - and many dog owners in Ireland don't bother with a licence. Failure to pay a fine within a specified period can result in prosecution by your local authority.

Licences are not required for dogs in the possession of the County Council, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Gardai, blind persons' guide-dogs, and any dog imported into the State for less than 30 days.
The revenue from dog licences finances the operation of dog control services in local areas throughout the country

That is why I can't see it being a problem for the government to authorise the RSPCA as licence managers on their behalf to help towards their costs - you obviously do not have dog control services in each area as we have.

Does that apply to the 'Farmer Boys' as well?

[little blue]

Don't know if this will will hyperlink...
Thought you might find it interesting


http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/3591/the-anatomy-of-a-dog-attack/