This page was last revised on 1st April 2006
Rumour has it that there are people about who walk up and down the street sticking fixed penalty notices on cars that park illegally - these people are called Traffic Wardens. Well, ithere are also people called Dog Wardens. I assume that means that if I bark illegally, I'll get a piece of paper stuck on my nose (depending on its flavour, I'd probably eat it - otherwise I'd shred it into about 1,327 pieces!
I'm glad, though, that England hasn't followed the example of Smithtown, USA, where dogs can't bark for more than 15 minutes at a time. Punishment for the third infringement of this law is a $500 fine and a 15-day jail sentence, but I can't figure out if it is the owner or the dog that does the time. Mind you, my pet Ian reminds me that Europe is in England, and Europe is well capable of coming up with its own silly laws - so watch out!
On the serious side though, there is alot of legislation here in the United Kingdom that our pets need to know about. After all, if they break the law, and have to pay a hefty fine, just think about the food and toys that money could have bought instead! And if they get sent to prison, who can we take for walkies then?
I list below some websites, which may inform, or at least remind, pets about their responsibilities. The law quoted applies in the UK, but you will probably find similar doo doos and don't don'ts elsewhere in the universe too!
Dog Law
You can trust the Dogs Trust!
Dog Fouling
This is a clear note from DirectGov covering the major issues relating to the UK.
The Control of Dogs
A site created by the UK Government's Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, but never mind! Ian says they think of a pronounceable acronym first (Defra) and then make it mean something! I understand that UK Farmers have a different meaning for these five letters...! Sadly, there is no word as to what we dogs will be allowed to do once we are in control!
The WaG Law
"Ah!", I hear you think, "no link - this may be a hoax then!" Well you decide! Woody's Law essentially is in three parts: Clause 1 states that "Anything that Woody or Gemma wants to be theirs, is theirs. Clause 2 states that, "Where there is a difference of opinion between Woody or Gemma and their pets as to the validity of Clause 1, Clause 3 shall apply". Clause 3 states that, notwithstanding what Clause 2 might be trying to say, "Anything that Woody or Gemma wants to be theirs is theirs.