Government rejects universal licence for dog owners

The Responsible Dog Ownership Taskforce was established by the government in 2022 after a series of highly publicised dog attacks.

Its report found that the UK’s dog population had increased by 35% since 2011, while hospital admissions for dog bites in England had risen by 77%.

It said the number of pets also surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, when potential owners had less access to support services.

“This left some inexperienced owners struggling to obtain help and access the services they needed,” the report said.

Dog owners in England, Wales and Scotland previously paid an annual fee for an ownership licence until it was abolished in 1987.

The system was scrapped because the revenue it generated did not justify the cost of running it.

Dog owners in Northern Ireland still pay £12.50 for a licence, reduced to £5 for those receiving an income-related benefit.

In France, owners of dogs considered dangerous must obtain special permits, which may involve completing training and having their dog assessed by a behavioural specialist.

Switzerland once required prospective dog owners to pass both a theoretical and practical test, although that requirement has since been removed.

Most taskforce members supported introducing legal obligations for dog owners, but the report said further work was needed to determine their form.

“Any legal requirement would need careful consideration of its purpose and should not appear to be a tax on owners who already behave responsibly.

“Reintroducing a universal dog licence could simply create another database of responsible owners or an administrative exercise with limited public-safety benefits and little impact on responsible ownership.”

Possible alternatives include stricter controls for high-risk dogs, background checks for prospective owners and mandatory knowledge tests.

Dogs Trust and the RSPCA have commissioned research into the costs and benefits of different systems, with findings expected later this year.

In the report’s ministerial foreword, Environment Minister Baroness Hayman of Ullock said: “In recent years, we have seen a worrying increase in dog attacks alongside changing patterns of dog ownership.”

She described the taskforce’s findings as an “important and timely contribution” and said ministers were reviewing its recommendations alongside wider government work.

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