Unsure about the law governing pet identification in the UK? Don’t know what you should put on your pet’s name tag?

No problem! Read our simple guide to U.K Law on Pet Identification and our guidance and suggestions on suitable pet tag engraving.

We will engrave whatever you request on your pet id tag, but if you'd like to learn more about the law then this guide should answer all of your questions.

U.K Control of Dogs Order 1992

We are forever surprised by the number of dogs that we see when we are out and about that are without a collar, an identity tag or both! Working within the Pet industry for so many years we have come to learn that many people simply aren’t aware of the U.K Control of Dogs Order 1992.

Don’t get a fine, get a tag!  - The Legal Requirements

You could be fined up to £5000 if you fail to comply with the law. To avoid this make sure that you follow these simple steps below.

All dogs (with the exception of some working dogs) are required to wear a collar and dog identification tag or other form of clear identification when in a public place.

Your dog must wear at pet tag even if they are microchipped. Microchipping your dog is also legally required and must be done along with their registration by the time they are 8 weeks old.

What to put on your dog’s identity tag

The minimum requirement to be compliant with the law is:

·         The name and address of the owner should be inscribed or written on the collar

·         Or the name and address of the owner inscribed on a plate, badge or tag attached to the collar

Because some addresses can take up a lot of space on small pet tags it is helpful to know that a House Number or Name and a Postcode are sufficient to identify and UK address.

Whilst not legally required, we would strongly advise also adding a contact telephone number to your pet tag. Many Council Dog Wardens recommend this to speed up the return of lost dogs.

Many of our customers do choose to have a telephone number, either home or for a mobile phone also engraved onto their pet’s tags. It’s not uncommon to have both a mobile and a landline number or the number of a relative as a back-up.

Including your Dog’s name on your pet tag

Choosing to have your dog’s name on your pet id tag is a personal choice. We will engrave whatever you request on your pet tag and many of our customers choose to have their dog’s name on the tag while others prefer not to in case their dog is stolen. It is a personal choice that you should consider from the perspective of your own circumstances. The Kennel Club recommends not including the dog's name on the tag but again it is your choice.

Exceptions to the Control of Dogs Order

There are some exceptions that apply to certain dogs who are exempt from having to wear a collar with ID Tag, they are:

• Any dog registered with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

• Any dog while being used in emergency rescue work.

• Any dog while being used on official duties by a member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, HM Customs and Excise or the police.

• Any dog while being used for driving or tending cattle or sheep.

• Any dog while being used for the capture or destruction of vermin.

• Any dog while being used for sporting purposes.

• Any pack of hounds.

It is advisable to check how these exceptions may apply to you by contacting the Dog Warden at your local council who will advise you fully on the exceptions in you case.

We hope that this guide helps to clarify what you as a responsible dog owner must do to keep your dog safe and compliant within the law, but if we can help you in any way at all or provide any additional advice then please do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. You can call us Monday to Friday during office hours on 01736 799089 or you can email us any time info@bellgiftgroup.com or we’re very social and active on Facebook and Instagram @petidtagsexpress