RSPCA says pet dog licence scheme would encourage responsible ownership

Wednesday, 1 September 2010 11:59

Pet dogs licensed via a proposed scheme recently outlined by the RSPCA would help to encourage responsible ownership.

This is according to the pet health care charity, in a report which set out the case for implementing an annual fee of around £22. This, it argued, would not only reduce the number of strays in the country, but improve canine welfare and control services.

Treatment for injuries caused by bites and disease prevention could also be catered for by the levy, with microchips used to identify pets - and consequently cut down on the number of unwanted dogs.

RSPCA director of communications David Bowles, who wrote the report based on research from Reading University, added: "A dog licence would raise money which could be targeted into improving enforcement of laws at a local level, improve the welfare of dogs and reverse the use of certain breeds of dogs as a status symbol or weapon."

Last week, the charity issued a statement regarding the conclusion of a case which saw a north London man convicted of training a canine to fight.

Bilal Mohammed Aldeeb, 32, of Avenue Road in Southgate, was given a five-year restriction following a covert investigation by the RSPCA.

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Posted by Elaine