DOG owners could risk fines of up to £100 simply for not carrying poo bags on them in some areas of the UK – and these aren’t the only odd pet laws you need to watch out for.
Local councils are allowed to set their own rules call “byelaws”.
And while you may understandably expect to pay a fine for not cleaning up your dog’s mess, many councils take it one step further by fining people for not carrying the means to pick up the poop to begin with.
And if fines are ignored or not paid, dog walkers could risk having to cough up thousands of pounds if councils take you to court.
Each council will have its own rules and it’s not clear how many implement these fines, so check with your local council to be on the safe side.
Daventry District Council in Northamptonshire, for example, says failure to provide the means to pick up after a dog at the request of an authorised officer will result in a £100 fine.
Fail to pay the fine and you could face a heftier £1,000 bill.
North Somerset Council also requires dog walkers to carry a poo bag with owners facing a £75 for failing to have one (falling to £50 if paid within 10 days) and a £1,000 fine if they prosecute.
Dog owners can also be fined £100 by Boston Borough Council in Lincolnshire for not having on them a “suitable receptacle” to pick up dog faeces.
In England, Scotland, and Wales dogs owners must ensure their pet is fitted with a microchip by the time it’s eight weeks old.
Fail to do, and you can be fined up to £500.
In the UK it’s illegal to own, sell, abandon, giveaway or breed from a banned dog.
These dogs are Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, and Fila Brasileiros.
If you’re caught you could face a fine and up to 14 years in prison if the dog kills or injures someone.
And come councils have taken the rules even further – Canterbury County Council in Kent says dog walkers face an £80 fine if they are caught without at least TWO poo bags.
While one pet owner was recently fined £1,500 for failing to pick up poo in his own garden.
We round-up what are the dog fouling laws in the UK and what can you do if you see someone not picking up their animal’s waste.
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