Draft Dogs Law (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202- (P.63/2025): amendment

STATES OF JERSEY

DRAFT DOGS LAW (JERSEY) AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 202- (P.63/2025): AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 28th October 2025 by the Comité des Connétable s

Earliest date for debate: 11th November 2025

STATES GREFFE

2025  P.63/2025 Amd.

DRAFT DOGS LAW (JERSEY) AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 202- (P.63/2025): AMENDMENT

1  PAGE 17, REGULATION 6 –

In Regulation 6, in substituted Article 6, for paragraph (5) substitute –

5. Despite the information required to be inscribed on a collar, plate or badge in accordance with paragraph (1), that paragraph is taken to have been complied with if, immediately before the commencement of the Dogs Law (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202- (the "Amendment Regulations") –

1. there is a licence in force in respect of the dog; and
2. the name, address and telephone number of the owner are inscribed on the collar or on a plate or badge attached to the collar.

6. Paragraph (5) ceases to apply and paragraph (1) takes effect if, on or after the commencement of the Amendment Regulations –

1. the owner changes their name, address or telephone number; or
2. the collar, plate or badge on which the information is inscribed is replaced for any reason.

2  PAGE 19, REGULATION 9 –

Delete Regulation 9 and renumber the subsequent Regulations accordingly. 3  PAGE 23, REGULATION 15 –

In Regulation 15(2) (renumbered Regulation 14(2)), delete ", (1A) or (1B)". 4  PAGE 23, REGULATION 16 –

In  Regulation 16  (renumbered  Regulation 15),  in  substituted  Article 13A(2)(e),  delete ", (1A) or (1B)".

COMITÉ DES CONNÉTABLES

REPORT

Since lodging the Draft Dogs Law (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202- (P.63/2025) for debate, the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel has presented comments to the States and the Comité des Connétable s has received feedback on two areas. This amendment is intended to address those concerns.

The main aim of the proposition is to introduce a new registration scheme for "dangerous dogs" – these are defined and are certain breeds of dog and dogs that may fit the characteristics and measurements of an XL Bully. The registration scheme is intended to strengthen public safety by ensuring that ownership of such dogs is regulated, recorded, and subject to clear conditions. It will impose new restrictions on dangerous dogs, including requirements for insurance, control in public spaces and neutering, which are designed to reduce the risks posed to the public and to animal welfare. These requirements follow restrictions which have been applied in other countries in recent years including, for example, the United Kingdom and France.

In bringing forward this new scheme, the opportunity was taken to update outdated drafting and amend certain provisions in the Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961. It is concerns about two of these aspects that this amendment seeks to address.

Article 6 – Wearing of collar by dogs

The Law currently requires a dog, when in a public place, to wear a collar. That collar – or a plate or badge attached to the collar – must contain the name, address and telephone number of the owner of the dog.

This requirement is to ensure that a dog on a highway or in a public place, and not in the charge of any person, can swiftly be returned to its owner. The display of the owner's name and address has been a requirement since the inception of the Law in 1961, and telephone number was added as a requirement in 2016.

We are, now, all more aware of the value of our personal information and of the increasing risk of this being misused. The requirement to publicly display one's name, home address and telephone number may inadvertently expose an individual to unnecessary security risks.

For this reason, the Comité proposes the information be changed to show the –

• dog's name;

• owner's telephone number (this provides an immediate point of contact for the owner should a dog be lost or stray); and

• dog licence number (if the owner cannot be contacted by telephone, the dog licence number will provide a Parish with additional contact information such as the owner's address).

P.63/2025 proposed that this change should apply from 1 February 2026 but we appreciate the concerns that this will require all dog owners to amend the collar or tag details whereas the change could, instead, be phased in.

The amendment therefore specifies that the existing requirements (owner name, address and telephone number) continue to be valid where a dog licence is already in force for a dog. The new requirements will apply should those details change or the collar, plate or badge is replaced; they also apply for any dog for which a first licence is purchased after the changes come into force.

A dog licence number is allocated on the purchase of the first dog licence and does not change. Displaying this information rather than the owner's address limits the personal data on the tag and also removes the need to replace a collar or tag should an owner change address.

Article 9 – Worrying of livestock by dogs

The proposed amendment to Article 9, so that worrying of livestock extends to damage to agricultural land that causes a hazard to the health of livestock, would capture, for example, damage to agricultural land caused by dogs (direct or indirectly) such as infection by Neospora. This is the most commonly diagnosed cause of abortion in cattle and other livestock.

The Scrutiny Panel's comments refer to correspondence from a member of the public raising concerns about the enforcement of existing provisions in the Dogs Law, particularly livestock worrying offences. The Panel also notes that, while the Proposition makes limited amendments to Article 9, it does not address the wider enforcement challenges raised by stakeholders in relation to livestock worrying offences and the general control of dogs which remain matters of concern.

In view of the Panel's comments about the wider issues of the general control of dogs and enforcement challenges, the Comité proposes no amendment should be made to Article 9 at this time and that these matters be considered more fully and addressed separately. Discussions are already being held with relevant stakeholders. The amendment therefore deletes Regulation 9 and removes subsequent references in Regulations 15 and 16.

Financial and staffing implications

There are no financial or staffing implications for the Parishes or Government as a result of this proposition.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) has been prepared in relation to this proposition and is available to read on the States Assembly website.