Please could someone point me in the right direction of laws regarding dogs off lead on a public highway.  Im going to write into our local paper, we had a story in there this week about a dog who got run over and the driver of the car didnt stop and they are quoting the laws of reporting accidents etc when a dog is hit (which I thought was abolished when the dog license was) but the fact the dog was offlead at the time seems to have gone unnoticed so I thought I would drop them a line but would like to get my facts straight first :)

Ask your council. There is no national law which says dogs must be on a lead on a public highway - just 'under control'. The law only requires them to wear a collar and tag when in a public place. Local councils have the power to designate 'on lead areas'.

I was going to suggest the local Dog Warden as a source of information as well.

The Road Traffic Act states which animals make an accident reportable. Dogs are included. The dog warden should be able to help with advice re this and any 'lead' issues.

I thought it was an actual law

Maybe I wont put that bit in my letter then ;)

I might be wrong so don't quote me on this but you can check on the Kennel Club website.  I'm sure there is a law that your dog must be kept on a lead while walking on the road...something to do with the Road Traffic Act.  You can phone your Highways Authorities and they will tell you whether this law is enforced in your area.

Road and Traffic Act 1988
It is a requirement of the Road and Traffic Act 1988 that dogs must be held on a lead when on a designated road. Any person who causes or permits a dog to be on a designated road without being held on a lead is guilty of an offence. The Dog Wardens will stop and tell people to put their dogs on lead when walking by a road. Failure to comply could result in a prosecution through the Magistrates' Court with a maximum fine of £200.

The law JG refers to regarding collars and tags comes under The Control of Dogs act 1992

Huskygal just beat me to it, it is an offence not to report an accident  (RTA) involving dogs to the poilce. However if you ran a cat over you are not obliged by law to report it. Check with Holly Lee at the KC regarding each local authoritys dog control orders.

Yep, you're right. :) Claire, you can quote section 27.. :)

How do you know the dog was actually been walked off lead near the road.  He could have ran out of a park or garden into the road?