Bring Back Dog Licencing
Should we bring back dog licencing?
I am fed up with irresponsible dog owners and I firmly believe we should bring back dog licencing.
When I take my dog for a walk, more often than not, we get harrassed by loose dogs whose owners have little or no control over them. Sometimes it frightens the children, and you never know what an unkown dog will do.
I would like to see a licencing system put in place similar to the driving licence. There should be Obligatory dog/handler training for every dog owned to a recognised level of ability. Those who fail the test must repeat the training until they pass. There would be concessions in the case of current dog owners, particularly the elderly, where the dog is an essential companion. Dogs who fail the test repeatedly and show levels of aggression which cannot be trained out should be put down. Repeated failure of dog/handler would result in the owner having to give up the dog to a more suitable owner.
DNA sample of every dog should be held on file, along with the owner’s details. This would allow authorities to deal with dog fouling more effectively. It would also play an important role in evidence gathering for ‘hit and run’ dog attacks.
Having a record of all dog/owner activity will give a broad picture. Instances of cruelty or abuse to the dog could result in prosecution of the owner, obligatory re-training and possible revocation of the licence, ensuring the owner cannot continue to keep dogs.
There are many, many dog owners who dearly love their pets, train them properly and treat them with respect and dignity. Unfortunately, there are always some idiots who care nothing for the animal, nor for the effect they have on other people. A licencing system would allow responsible dog owners to prove their abilities and would not restrict them in any way, but would force irresponsible and inadequate owners to improve their skills enforce their responsibilities, or lose the privilege of owning a dog.
Dog licencing in this way would improve the lives of many dogs and it would create a safer and cleaner environment for everybody.
I would be very interested to hear your views on this, so please leave a comment. Thanks.
