Dog bites: What about licensing dog owners?
The problem of dog bites is not restricted to a legal jurisdiction, and clearly it is a risk in any area where dogs are in close proximity to humans. Some legal jurisdictions have laws governing dog control, but in the face of continuing incidents of dog bites, there is a repeated question of "what more can be done?".
A common first response is assessment of the law. An article addressing the problem of dog bites in the UK states: "Green would like a licence for owners, not dogs, with a test to ensure every owner knows the basics of the law, dog control and animal welfare". http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/
"Good dog control means safer communities" said Dr Ian Robertson, when he was interviewed on the subject of New Zealand's Dog Control Act and continuing concerns regarding dog bites. "While law is clearly one of the important elements in the solution, it is not a one-shot panacea". Robertson says that owner eduction (including legal responsibilities and how the dog "thinks") is also an essential element in reducing tragic incidents. "Well intended and caring owners frequently describe their pets as members of the family" says Robertson, "however, the reality is that despite being viewed by their human caregivers as family members, dogs will continue to think and behave as dogs. Failure to remember that, and manage circumstances accordingly, increases the risk of another tragedy with regrettable outcomes for both the human and the animal involved". Robertson says that the idea of licensing the dog owner is, in his opinion, "a good idea that has been suggested before, and has yet to be be fully explored". http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/
The English RSPCA wants a new law to create a clear link between dogs and owners through compulsory microchipping or the return of the dog licence. It also supports measures to control problem dogs before they attack people – preventive orders that could be issued by police or councils. Under Labour, this proposal was called the "dogbo" – a canine asbo – and was hated by many dog lovers. Some owners fear council busybodies who don't understand dog behaviour would enforce unnecessary measures on innocent dogs – from muzzling to banning dogs from public areas. According to RSPCA polling, two-thirds of owners favour licensing because they believe animal welfare will improve.