New UK pet ownership laws, effective June 10, 2024, impose significant fines on dog and cat owners. A key change mandates microchipping for all dogs and cats, including indoor cats, with non-compliance potentially costing £500.
Open Study College's Robbie Bryant highlights additional overlooked regulations. Failure to include the owner's name and address on a dog's tag, as required by the Animal Health Act 1981, can result in a staggering £5,000 fine or a six-month prison sentence. Updating the tag after moving is also crucial.
Transporting dogs requires proper restraint using a harness, carrier, cage, or guard. Holding a dog while driving can lead to an immediate £5,000 fine. Failing to clean up after a dog can incur a £100 fine, and some areas fine owners for not carrying poo bags. Finally, the Road Traffic Act 1988 prohibits dogs from being off-lead on designated roads.