DOG CRIME

Wildlife and animal crime can be a complex area to understand.

To find out what wildlife crime is, go to our wildlife crime page. 
 

Crimes involving Dogs

·         dogs being out of control in public places

·         banned dogs

·         dog theft

Animal cruelty

Animal cruelty is when someone doesn’t care for or deliberately hurts an animal.

It can include anything from physical violence, to deliberate mental distress or neglect, for example not feeding or cleaning an animal.

If you see, or suspect, that a person may be treating an animal badly, whether this is physical violence, neglect or any other form of cruelty, you should report this to the RSPCA.

We work with the RSPCA to investigate cases of animal cruelty.

If your partner, ex-partner or a family member has harmed or threatened to harm your pet, this can be a form of domestic abuse. Find out more about animal cruelty and domestic abuse.

Dogs out of control in public places

It’s an offence to let a dog be dangerously out of control whether that’s in public or private.

A dog is considered to be out of control if it:

·         injures someone

·         makes someone worried that it might injure them

A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if:

·         it attacks someone’s animal

·         the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal

Please note, a farmer is allowed to kill your dog if it’s worrying their livestock.

If you see a dog loose, please Report online

If the dog seems to be out of control, let us know by calling 101.

Banned dogs

In the UK, it's against the law to own certain types of dog. Whether your dog is a banned type depends on what it looks like, rather than its breed or name.

It's a criminal offence to own or possess an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless you have a valid Certificate of Exemption.

You can find more information about banned dogs.

If you think someone has or is breeding dogs, please report it online.

If you see a banned dog loose or it seems to be out of control, please report it online or call 101.

Dog theft

Before you report a dog theft to us, please make sure it hasn’t:

·         escaped and run away

·         been taken for a walk by someone else

If you think your dog has been stolen you can report it online.

Be ready to give us as much information as you can, including:

·         name

·         microchip number

·         description

·         when you last saw them

·         what happened when they disappeared

·         details of anyone who may have access to your dog

·         descriptions of people or vehicles seen acting suspiciously in the area

You should also:

·         tell your local council who may have a dog warden responsible for stray dogs

·         tell your microchip database your dog is missing

·         consider advertising for your dog on websites, at local vet’s and rescue centres, and on park notice boards.

Thank you