Does my dog have to wear a name tag?
We all adore our dogs, whether they are local pups or wonderful rescue dogs adopted from abroad. Keeping them healthy and safe is at the forefront of our minds, so the question is, does UK law require my dog to wear a name tag?
The Control of Dogs Order 1992 makes it clear, that a dog in a public place MUST wear a collar (or engraved tag) displaying the owner's name and address. Failure to comply risks a hefty fine.
This means, that legally, your dog has to have a tag or plate on their collar with your name and address.
Some exceptions apply to some working dogs-
“(2) Paragraph (1) above shall not apply to—
(a)any pack of hounds,
(b)any dog while being used for sporting purposes,
(c)any dog while being used for the capture or destruction of vermin,
(d)any dog while being used for the driving or tending of cattle or sheep,
(e)any dog while being used on official duties by a member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces or Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise or the police force for any area,
(f)any dog while being used in emergency rescue work, or
(g)any dog registered with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.”
Why does it matter if my dog wears a tag or not?
As we have mentioned, legally your name and address must be on the dog’s collar or tag, but a name tag does more than satisfy regulations. It offers a tangible, everyday layer of safety crucial for every dog, whether they are a rescue dog from Spain or not.
If your dog gets loose, a tag is a quick passport home. Anyone who finds them has your details at their fingertips, avoiding lengthy shelter stays or the stress of extended searches. Adding your mobile phone number means the majority of people will have the ability to contact you instantly if they find your dog.
If you've moved or changed your number, get a replacement tag as soon as you can (and remember to update your microchip details too!).
At Spanish Happy Tails Rescue UK we help rescue dogs from Spain find loving homes in the UK.
Adopting a dog from Spain is more straightforward than you might think, we deal with everything for you and with full Rescue Back Up, we are there for you from adoption and every day after that.
