Comments on: Dog Owners - Do You Know Your Legal Rights?

By: shirley

shirley — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:50:29 +0000

am i allowed to view documentation regarding alleged dog bites other than going to court (uk resident)

By: sandra

sandra — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:28:50 +0000

hi, i was searching for advice about my dog, i have a rottweiler cross that was chained in my frony garden, i also took in about 6 week ago a stray staffy pup around 6 to 8 month old,at the side of my house is a public path, an owner was walking hers and a friends dog down the path, my staffy ran round and started barking at the dogs, my rotty then jumped through the bush and attacked 1 of the dogs while still on her chain, this resulted in the other dog being taken to the vets as she had gone through the wall of its chest, it has a swollen chest with 2 tubes inserted for swelling and infection, the owners came to see me and sent the police to proceed leagal matters, i am a single parent and im struggling to get by, i totally understand and agree my dog did the damage, i believe she thought she was defending my staffy, she is not usually agressive to other dogs as proven by her allowing us to keep the stray staffy,could you give me any advice on this matter and where i stand legally , thanku sandra…

By: paris Morgan

paris Morgan — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:48:54 +0000

What laws can i consider when giving out my puppy for adoption after the death of its mother. Can I just hand it over to some one and call it an adoption?
thanks

By: Neil Burton

Neil Burton — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:31:50 +0000

Hello Siohban

Whereabouts do you reside, are you in the UK?

If you are and the dog has not been seized by a Dog Warden because you write it was taken to the local animal shelter instead of the pound this may mean your dog was not seized legally?

If the dog was taken to a non statutory organisation and they have not contacted the local council to report the dog being handed in, then it has not been seized as a stray, you should be able to get the dog back.

If the dog is seized by the dog warden under section 149 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and it has done its 7 days in the care of the council, then unfortunately you cannot get your dog back, the law is clear in this respect, although dog wardens will porbalby ask the new owners if they will hand it back?

If however, the dog was seized in accordance with section 150 of the same act and you can prove to the council that the dog is yours, the new keeper has to return it to you, that is the law as well.

If you are outside the UK, then you will need to check on the laws of your own state or country.

If you are in the USA, check with the local branch of the National Animal Control Association, they usually have a state organisiation.

I hope that this is of some use to you?

Thank you

Neil Burton
Chairman
National Dog Warden Association

By: siohban

siohban — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:15:52 +0000

my dog got out one day from the yard and was in the green infront of the row of houses i reside in he is a beautiful newfoundlander and a lady at the end of the row of houses or around the coner took him in to her house /yard and had him locked up meaning the dog could not return home and then later put him into the pound for 5days and reclaimed him as hers leagly from the pound as i did not search the pound as he is so lovely and friendly and never strays from around the house that somone had him in ther house, i did call to a large number of house asking residents and children had they seen the dog givin his descrition etc and contact the animal shelter in or town as that is where any would leave such a pet, as its closer than the pound and they find homes for the pet rather than destroy them, i knew in my heart somone had took him and i made the mistake of not contacting the pound, the dog was not walked as i would have saw him it was my beleive that that this lady knew i was loolim for him or he would be spotted, until 8weeks after he went missing i saw him with her daughter on a lead aroubd the conner from where we live, i hav asked her for the dog back, she told me that she is now the leagle owner through the pound and taken him to give him a home. we as a family loved this pet and miss him so much and now this lady says she is the leagle owner of the dog as i did not claim him. my daughters do not know that there dog is a home around the coner and will have to this ladys daughter walking him, do i have any rights to reclaiming the dog after release from the pound to this woman.

By: allie

allie — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:43:39 +0000

Your dog was straying, which could led YOU to charges of dangerously out of control. There isnt enough details to say if a aw has been broken. If there is livestock on the land they have every right to shot a dog they beleive is worrying the livestock.

the overall answer is very simple. Stop your dog getting out. Be thankful he wasnt hurt and keep your dog under control!

By: Frankie Wilson

Frankie Wilson — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:19:14 +0000

I was just trynig to get the facts.. I have a Lab puppy, a male, less that a year old, and he has just started wandering to our neighbors house who has a female dog. Just last week they apparently shot him in the hip with what I suppose was buckshot. Rather than call us to let us know he was there. We live in the country on 85 acres and I hate to keep him chained all of the time. We have had dogs in the past and they never did this. Is it legal for someone to shoot your dog?? Even though I did not witness it, my son was in the yard playing basketball at the time and heard the shot, then the dog came running with blood all over his hip, he was not seriously hurt , but he could have been. Thanks