Stumpy - possibly the best post on this topic so far - informed and balanced.

Just to keep this shaggy dog story going a bit longer consider this:

I want to take my pet lamb (young sheep to you townies)for a walk on a lead to the local park; as a minimum this is what as an owner of such a dangerous animal I would have to do:

* register the premises where I keep it with DEFRA (Dept. Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)as a holding and a have a specific holding number;
* identify the lamb with a tag in each ear one of which must be electronic so it can be read with a bar code reader by any authorised person;
* complete a movement licence before taking it for a walk - oh yes and I will also need a holding number of the destination;
* but all to no avail as I won't be able to take it for a walk because you can only transport the lamb in an approved vehicle.

There are good reasons for all the above but it does highlight the nonsense that surrounds dog ownership in this country - so with a few exceptions I can own any breed of dog without anyone knowing about it on any premises I like; I can take it to the local park either on or off lead and let it run wild; it can run amok amongst the local female dog population and spread it's seed willy nilly (I am assuming it is a male dog); it can upset people with its noisy bark; it's faeces (see above) can cause a wide range of health problems in humans and other animals; it can bite your legs and other parts of your anatomy while you are going about your lawful business; but worst and by far the worst of all - it can rip the face off of your or somebody else's child or even kill them. And they do.

My pet lamb might nibble the zip on my jacket.