Dogs bred for fighting.
6 months imprisonment- Illegal breeding, sale, or possession of fighting dogs Any Person
UK Act of Parliament
1991
United Kingdom
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
6 compliance obligations
Penalty landscape
1 of 6 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 2 carry different penalties and 3 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 3
Plus 3 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 770 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 78 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Keeping dogs under proper control.
14 years imprisonment- Failure to keep a dog under proper control Any Person
Destruction and disqualification orders.
Unlimited fine- Breach a dog disqualification order or fail to surrender a dog for destruction Any Person
Contingent destruction orders.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Courts must issue contingent destruction orders for dangerous dogs Tribunal / Court
Destruction orders otherwise than on a conviction.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Courts may order the destruction of a seized dog without a criminal conviction Tribunal / Court
Expenses.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government must fund expenses for Dangerous Dogs Act administration Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 6 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works with agencies …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.