Have you seen this price hike??

boopydoo

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8293563.stm

RSPCA would need to brace itself for a lot of abandoned dogs next Summer because I can't see some dog owners forking out this much to keep their beloved mutt!

SnowyOwl_2

To Northern Ireland's shame, as quoted from the article linked to:

Official figures paint a picture of neglect and irresponsible owners.
More than a third of all stray dogs in the United Kingdom are in Northern Ireland where 7,400 animals were recovered by wardens last year

I hope the raise in cost of a dog license helps to address the shameful facts about Northern Ireland then it's a wonderful and welcome change.

And it's USPCA in Northern Ireland - RSPCA only operates in England and Wales even though they fundraise here and Scotland.

nickcardwell

Well i think a price hike of up to £50 is a bit much, but at the same time its been £5 for years! (too low)

i think it should be a gradular increase.

but agree with the 1st comment, a lot of dogs will be dumped due to the high costs.

seatzie

<where 7,400 animals were recovered by wardens >

statistics can be misleading, my mother in law was looking after our dog, she opened the door to the postman, dog sees cat in garden, flies out the door, ends up in a wardens van, so shes one of the 7,400 by a fluke as shes never out of the house off the lead..........funny how you don't need a licence for a cat to wander about and crap in your garden lol

warmhands.coldheart

SnowyOwl wrote: »

I hope the raise in cost of a dog license helps to address the shameful facts about Northern Ireland then it's a wonderful and welcome change.

Do you honestly think that it is genuine dog owners who let their dogs wander aimlessly around the country? If all these dogs that have been abandoned or are in the USPCA or local authority Kennels were chipped or wearing licences do you not think their owners would be tracked down. the whole concept of a dog licence is a load of Cr*p. Why else was it abolished in GB back in 1987? The best way, in my opinion, to deal with this issue would require a number of things done.
A, Scrap the dog License and instead make it compulsory to have ALL dogs chipped at time of purchase at a One Off cost of about £50. This would be equivalent to about 10 years of the current dog license rate so genuine owners shouldn't have a problem paying this) Owners would then be a lot easier to be be tracked down if the dog is found. Owners (to be) must provide Photo ID & Utility bills on purchase to avoid giving false details.
B, All Dog breading should be a lot lot more tightly regulated/licensed/policed by the local authorities.
C, All dogs other than those "licensed" for breeding should have "the snip" this would stop unwanted litters and drastically reduce the number of "strays"

All very simple steps and wouldn't be that hard to implement if done properly..

(Oh, by the way all the above recommendations should also apply to cats as they are quite frankly becoming a pest in our countryside decimating the local wildlife)

SnowyOwl_2

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

Do you honestly think that it is genuine dog owners who let their dogs wander aimlessly around the country? If all these dogs that have been abandoned or are in the USPCA or local authority Kennels were chipped or wearing licences do you not think their owners would be tracked down. the whole concept of a dog licence is a load of Cr*p. Why else was it abolished in GB back in 1987? The best way, in my opinion, to deal with this issue would require a number of things done.
A, Scrap the dog License and instead make it compulsory to have ALL dogs chipped at time of purchase at a One Off cost of about £50. This would be equivalent to about 10 years of the current dog license rate so genuine owners shouldn't have a problem paying this) Owners would then be a lot easier to be be tracked down if the dog is found. Owners (to be) must provide Photo ID & Utility bills on purchase to avoid giving false details.
B, All Dog breading should be a lot lot more tightly regulated/licensed/policed by the local authorities.
C, All dogs other than those "licensed" for breeding should have "the snip" this would stop unwanted litters and drastically reduce the number of "strays"

All very simple steps and wouldn't be that hard to implement if done properly..

(Oh, by the way all the above recommendations should also apply to cats as they are quite frankly becoming a pest in our countryside decimating the local wildlife)

Yes, actually I do. Some dogs I see in the streets have collars on, unless you think dogs put their own collars on it suggests to me that these dogs are turned out onto the street as and when their owners want.

warmhands.coldheart

SnowyOwl wrote: »

Yes, actually I do. Some dogs I see in the streets have collars on, unless you think dogs put their own collars on it suggests to me that these dogs are turned out onto the street as and when their owners want.

OK "Genuine" was probably the wrong word to use in that post... Should have used "Responsible"

I honestly dont think it'll make a blind bit of difference as it will just mean more people will not buy dog licences and as there is pish poor enforcement of it anyway, the number of stray dogs will not decrease in the slightest.

I would compare it to car insurance in a wierd way... car insurance to expensive for some people.. they buy a car anway and don't insure it... insurance premiums go up to pay for un-insured drivers... more expensive premiums mean more people can't afford it so more people go un-insured so premiums go up further... a vicious circle....

Don't penalise Responsible dog owners for irresponsible behaviour of others

seatzie

for my confessed sins above I got a very strongly worded letter threatening to take me to court for "allowing my dog to stray in contravention of the law" - mother in law lives 5 miles from me in a different council area, does the council really think I allowed her to stray that far? (the dog that is not the mother in law?), couple of main roads, large dual carriageway etc etc? smacks of a money making excersise for the councils

having said that I agree there is a problem of people opening the door and letting the dogs out for the day, but hitting all owners means people just won't bother getting a licence, I certainly won't and if they want to enforce it, they can have the dog, I've a family to feed.......

absoluteutopia

My dog is chipped already and never leaves the back yard without being on a lead, i sure as hell wont be paying £50 for a license next Sept when its due. Its not my place to pay for others who dont

dianeio

I own what people consider to be a dangerous dog - An American Akita. I have him chipped, insured, licensed - and he is never of the lead. He is walked 3-4 times a day and still at the age of two goes to Doggy School to keep him socialised, plus he really enjoys it.

Add up the cost of all that - then add on his food bill.

The dog owners that are responsible already pay too much, because they never want there pet removed from there care.

I will stop paying for a license because I feel the money would be better used for good quality pet insurance with liability cover - than a silly pointless dog tag from the Council.

If they can't get £5 of some dog owners now - how will they get £50?

SnowyOwl_2

seatzie wrote: »

for my confessed sins above I got a very strongly worded letter threatening to take me to court for "allowing my dog to stray in contravention of the law" - mother in law lives 5 miles from me in a different council area, does the council really think I allowed her to stray that far? (the dog that is not the mother in law?), couple of main roads, large dual carriageway etc etc? smacks of a money making excersise for the councils

having said that I agree there is a problem of people opening the door and letting the dogs out for the day, but hitting all owners means people just won't bother getting a licence, I certainly won't and if they want to enforce it, they can have the dog, I've a family to feed.......

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

I take it you are joking. If you're not why not just get your dog put to sleep now and save yourself a lot of hassle - it seems the dog isn't terribly important to you if you'd willingly part with it for a certain death just because of £50.