Your Responsibilities
By law, your Beagle must wear a collar when in a public place, bearing your name and address. A harness is a good idea for the livelier hounds.
Remember to check regularly that the tag is still in place and clearly readable, and change the address if you are away on holiday.
The Animals Act places responsibility for any accident or damage caused by your hound firmly on YOU. Check your household insurance policy or think about taking out a special dog insurance with one of the specialised companies.
Please think carefully before you invite a Beagle to join your household, but remember, that in return for your time and care, a Beagle will reward you with love and friendship for an average of 12 to 14 years.
Please be a responsible Beagle owner and never allow your hound to be noisy or annoy others.
Poop Scooping and the Law
Local councils (and some other organisations like water companies and the British Waterways Board) can make local laws called byelaws. These can require you to clear up after your dog in certain areas, such as streets, parks and beaches.
However, powers to create poop scoop areas have been given to local authorities. Under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 councils can now designate most public land which is open to the air as a poop scoop area. If land is designated under the 1996 Act and you don’t clear up after your dog you may be asked to pay a fixed penalty of £50 instead of being taken to Court.
Do not wait until the law makes you clear up. It is in everyone’s interest that dog mess is not left lying where people might tread or sit in it.
Don’t play into the hands of the anti-dog lobby, so train your Beagle not to foul in public places and always carry a plastic bag or ‘poop-scoop’ to clean up any mistakes.
SCOOP THE POOP!