JSPCA PRESS RELEASE

December 2005  

CHANGES TO DOGS LAW EXPECTED FOR THE NEW YEAR

The Constables Committee have proposed a set of changes to the existing Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961 which includes changes to the way dog licenses are administered and raising the fines for committing an offence under the Dogs (Jersey) Law.  Also, it is proposed that all the monies collected from the administration of the dog licenses and the fines for offences against the Dogs (Jersey) Law should go to the general Parish Account, rather than the Roads Account.

The existing Dogs Law currently provides that a person must have a license to cover the number of dogs kept.  The proposed changes to the licensing of dogs will involve making each dog license ‘dog specific’ and will require an owner to provide details such as breed, sex, age, colour and whether the dog has a micro-chip or other means of accurate identification.  These details will be used to help trace the owner of the dog if it is found as a stray, for example.

The proposed new amendments to the Dogs Law are to be discussed in the States on 31^st January 2006 and if debated and agreed by the States, they are likely to be enacted within the seven days following the discussions.

ENDS