Ministers reject dog ownership licence scheme

Ministers have turned down a proposal to introduce a licence scheme for dog owners, rejecting the plan that had been put forward as a new legal requirement. The decision was announced after a taskforce had suggested that such measures could help promote dog control and reduce attacks.

The taskforce’s recommendation centered on the idea that additional legal requirements would improve public safety by encouraging responsible ownership and lowering the incidence of dog‑related incidents. Despite the taskforce’s arguments, the ministers chose not to adopt the licence scheme.

Ministers rejected the dog ownership licence scheme, and the taskforce had suggested new legal requirements could help promote dog control and reduce attacks.