What People are Saying About The Dog Ownership Suitability Test

[Jude]

Unfortunately dog licences did not work before and I don't think they will ever work. The responsible owners will dutifully buy a licence and the irresponsible ones will not. In order to fund efficient policing of licences the fee would need to be exorbitant and many people who are good, responsible owners will not be able to afford a licence - the others will just carry on as they always have, totally ignoring the law.

[zetstaff]

For me, it will just mean that already unscrupulous breeders will just disappear under the radar + nothing will change

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Jude

Unfortunately dog licences did not work before and I don't think they will ever work. The responsible owners will dutifully buy a licence and the irresponsible ones will not. In order to fund efficient policing of licences the fee would need to be exorbitant and many people who are good, responsible owners will not be able to afford a licence - the others will just carry on as they always have, totally ignoring the law.

I am not saying you are wrong, what I am hoping is that this can,... MAYBE be different because as in the old way you went along to the Post Office and bought your licence,..this time you have to do the`Dog Owners Test`,..you have to earn it.

With a bit of luck, people will see the difference, and if public opinion changes it may,... may just make others who would not normally get a licence go out and get one.

I think I read that it was going to cost no more than £40, which is not cheap, but I think for that you were entitled to a reduction on insurance,..I think this maybe where the extra money may come from to fund the Policing of the whole thing.

I will have to re-read it all

[J&J]

Dog licencing didn't work before when people in general were more honest!

And it sure aint gonna work this time, we've got the Dangerous Dog Act, Animal welfare acts have been improved dramatically etc, but these haven't made a difference because rarely are these laws implemented, when they do then the punishment is lienent that its a joke...

It won't be our dogs that gain anything out of this at all, they will still end up with irrisponcible owners, face curelty and neglect, be PTS for no real reason apart from lack of rescue space!

The only gainers, will be the council (or govenment who ever gets the licence fee's) the insurance companies and vets! Everybody else will be a loser!

Oh suggesting that having the lience will give you discount on your pet insurance, well we all know what the insurance companies are going to do, firstly rub their hands with glee (more customers) then counter react the discount by charging more for the policy!

I think they should actually just look at strenghing the punishment of the law already in existence, then actually implement it in an active manner, using full force when it comes to prosecuted individuals... Then bring in new breeding regualtions that goven breeders and the selling of animals, breeders must have a breeding cert, dogs DNA'd and health checked for it's breed.. To breed or continual to breed from unhealthy animal then to punishement is prisonable, not for just weeks but years!

Make it ilegal to sell any dog without a cert/licence, make 'mistakes' the responbility of the owner and not just large fines but a prisonable offence... to allow your dog to get pregnant or attempt to sell a dog/puppy without the right certificates/licence etc...

But just don't stick it on the stature book, actually implement the law and fully police it.. More use than making somebody answer a few questions and pass over some money!

[Caryll]

Originally Posted by Stuart

I think I read that it was going to cost no more than £40, which is not cheap, but I think for that you were entitled to a reduction on insurance,..I think this maybe where the extra money may come from to fund the Policing of the whole thing.

I will have to re-read it all

My big hesitation on this is that some people will not be able to afford the test/licence. The elderly on pensions, the jobless, the disabled. Has anything been said about this?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Caryll

My big hesitation on this is that some people will not be able to afford the test/licence. The elderly on pensions, the jobless, the disabled. Has anything been said about this?

Not that I know of, it is one of the worrying things

[Mazz]

Originally Posted by Caryll

My big hesitation on this is that some people will not be able to afford the test/licence. The elderly on pensions, the jobless, the disabled. Has anything been said about this?

I agree with what you say.
Years ago when they had the licence we did have licences as did most of the responsible people who owned dogs. We took rescues on who could not be socialised with crowds and play with children, so they were never put in that position.
The people who didn't bother then with the law, won't bother now.
Sorry for the pun, but I think they are barking up the wrong tree!

Mazz

[ClaireandDaisy]

When there`s a Child-Rearing Suitability Test I`ll support a dog one.

[gloriab]

Originally Posted by ClaireandDaisy

When there`s a Child-Rearing Suitability Test I`ll support a dog one.

oh so true