In recent months there have been calls for a return to the dog licensing regime. Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, does not believe that a return to the dog license would provide the suggested welfare benefit for dogs.

The dog license was abolished in 1987. At this point the license cost just 37p, however only a small number of dog owners bothered to buy a license. At the time the license was abolished, estimates suggest this was under 50%. The licensing regime was essentially a tax on dog ownership, it did not encourage a more responsible attitude towards dog ownership in the long term, nor did it protect in any way the welfare of dogs in the short term.