I have been trying to find if there is any law or act which states a dog is not allowed to roam about the countryside. I have a feeling there was something brought into the welfare od dogs for this not to happen but have not been lucky to find anything....can anyone help?

What do you mean 'roam' ? Off lead whilst under the supervison of an owner ?

No just let out of the door without supervision.

I would suspect the animal welfare act covers this as you are not making sure the dog is safe and will not harm itself or would cause harm to other animals people or property.

"Dog owners have a responsibility under the law to prevent their dogs from straying and causing injury or damage.......The local authority has the responsibility to collect strays and will charge you for kenneling a dog....." From Defra, here is the full article

Wiltshire council website, dog warden service.

I'm sure the owner who keeps letting thier dog out would not be pleased with the £25 fee on collecting thier dog - maybe calling the dog wardan out to the dog everytime it's loose may help the owners realise that there are responsibilities to owning a dog :)

we have got a number of these latch key dogs where we live and one is a gsd, the police have been informed the council have been informed and we do not have a dog warden where we live and there is no one to help us with these dogs and i do not know where to go next.

Many thanks for the responses, some of which is what I had thought was the case & i will take a look at the links.