Current requirements to display personal information on dogs’ collars may expose islanders to “unnecessary security risks”, according to a panel of politicians which is proposing to remove the obligation to display owner names and home addresses.
The Constables’ Committee has lodged an amendment to the Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961.
The current legislation requires dogs in public places to wear collars which display the name, address and telephone number of the owner. This aims to ensure lost pets can be easily returned to their owners.
The display of the owner’s name and address has been a requirement since 1961, and telephone number was added as a requirement in 2016.
The requirement to publicly display one’s name, home address and telephone number may inadvertently expose an individual to unnecessary security risks
the Comité des Connétable
But the Constables’ Committee is proposing that the information required should be changed to include the dog’s name, the owner’s telephone number, and the dog licence number instead.
The committee said: “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.”
The amendment explained that the proposed new information “limits the personal data on the tag and also removes the need to replace a collar or tag should an owner change address”.
The committee has proposed phasing in the change, with existing collars remaining valid until owners replace a tag or purchase a first dog licence.
The amendment also drops earlier proposals to expand the law on dogs worrying livestock, following feedback from scrutiny and stakeholders.
The committee said wider issues about dog control and enforcement would be examined in future discussions with relevant groups.