Editorial: April 24, 2026

The last couple of Editorials have focused on some of the proposed laws and restrictions on dog ownership around the country. Dog News has happily disseminated that information to our readers, which we will continue to do to help the American Kennel Club get their voice heard.

This week we are going to look at what our friends in the United Kingdom are doing to help build a better understanding of dog ownership and responsibility. Granted, they only have to deal with national laws and not 50 different states’ laws but with the laws of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which combined make the United Kingdom. The Royal Kennel Club has released the “The People’s Manifesto,” and with an upcoming election in Wales, it is directed to the Welsh government, giving their hopes and requests for the laws governing the Welsh people and addresses the current opinions of dog ownership and the responsibilities of dog ownership. Calling on the Welsh government to help dog owners acquire healthy dogs and care for their pets. It is a proactive paper that gets out in front of a situation instead of a reactive reply. It addresses how dog ownership makes a difference in people’s mental and physical health, especially for those who are isolated and lonely. It also makes available better education for potential dog owners. The recognition that dog owners should show the responsibility of ownership that is helped by educating the public and that licensing a dog is not the only answer. To prioritize practical non-regulatory steps to grow healthy homebred puppies and to protect the rights of responsible, careful, homebased breeders “who are the backbone of Welsh breeding for over 150 years.” Support of those homebred hobby breeders while helping to do away with puppy farming and imported puppies with questionable health issues. To protect home renters from restrictive leases that automatically prevent dog ownership. To introduce a bill that would allow renters to request that a pet cannot be “unreasonably refused” by the landlord. Spelled out reasons for the refusal and a 28-day response time by the landlord. “Rethinking dangerous dog legislation with the addition of the XL Bully type to the Dangerous Dog Act has heightened anxiety among responsible owners and underlines the failure of breed specific legislation to prevent serious incidents. The manifesto calls for an evidence-led review based on behavior rather than appearance, a greater focus on responsible ownership, early intervention and education, and better resourcing for police, local authorities and third sector partners while noting dog owner licensing alone would not solve the issue.” We especially like the quote from the Royal Kennel Club’s Jannine Edgar, “As an organization that reinvests entirely in improving dog health and welfare and supporting responsible breeds, we look forward to working constructively with the incoming government to deliver lasting, positive change for dogs and their owners.” It is interesting reading and shows how other countries are addressing the issues of dog ownership.