Does my dog legally need to wear a tag with my phone number?

No. The Control of Dogs Order 1992 requires a dog in a public place to wear a collar with the owner's name and address inscribed on it or on a plate attached to it. It does NOT require a phone number. A phone number is strongly recommended though — and a Snifftag QR tag goes a step further: the finder taps once and texts you their location directly, no number to dial and no number printed on the tag for a stranger to copy down.

My dog has a microchip — do I still need a collar and tag?

Yes. Microchipping does not replace the collar-and-tag requirement. The chip is read by a vet or warden with a scanner; a tag can be read by any member of the public who finds your dog. Both are required simultaneously. A Snifftag is the tag side of that pairing — engraved with your name and address (legally compliant) and backed by a QR code so the finder reaches you in seconds rather than waiting for the dog to end up at a vet.

Are cat collars and tags legally required in the UK?

No. There is no UK law requiring cats to wear collars or tags. Cats are not covered by the Control of Dogs Order 1992. Outdoor cats benefit just as much as dogs from being identifiable, however — Snifftag's cat tag is sized and weighted for breakaway collars and gives any finder a one‑tap way to reach you, which usually beats waiting for the cat to be scanned at a vet.

When did UK dog microchipping become law?

April 2016. Since 6 April 2016, all dogs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland must be microchipped by the time they are eight weeks old. The keeper's details must be registered on a compliant microchip database. Unchipped dogs can be seized and the keeper fined up to £500 if they fail to chip their dog within 21 days of being served a notice. Note that the chip helps after the dog reaches a vet or warden — a Snifftag works in the meantime, the moment a stranger first picks up the dog.

When did cat microchipping become law in the UK?

June 2024. From 10 June 2024, all cats in England must be microchipped by the time they are 20 weeks old. Keepers have 21 days to comply after receiving a notice or face a fine of up to £500. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not yet introduced mandatory cat microchipping at the time of writing. As with dogs, the chip is the long‑term proof of ownership; a Snifftag QR tag on the breakaway collar is what helps a stranger return your cat the same evening.

Which microchip databases are compliant in the UK?

Any database accredited by the Secretary of State. As of 2026, the main compliant databases include Petlog (the Kennel Club's database), Animal Microchips Ltd (AML), ProtectedPet, and others. When you microchip your pet, check that the database you're registering with is on the government's approved list. One advantage of Snifftag's recovery flow: it is independent of any microchip database, so even if your chip details are out of date the QR scan still reaches you directly.

I bought a QR tag — does it count as meeting the legal tag requirement?

It depends on the tag. A QR code alone does not display your name and address, which is what the law requires on a dog's collar. Snifftag prints the owner's name and registered address on the front of the metal disc (legally compliant under the Control of Dogs Order 1992) and the QR on the back for the modern recovery flow — so a single tag covers both the legal minimum and the practical recovery advantage. A bare QR-only sticker without engraved owner details would not be legally sufficient on its own.

What happens if my dog is found without a collar or microchip?

A dog found in a public place without a collar and tag can be seized by a dog warden. If the dog is unchipped and the keeper fails to comply with microchipping requirements within 21 days, the keeper can be fined up to £500. A Snifftag covers both legs of that risk: it satisfies the engraved‑name‑and‑address tag requirement, and the scan-and-alert flow means the dog is far less likely to end up in council hands in the first place.

UK pet tag and microchip laws: what the law actually requires

Two laws govern what your pet must carry in the UK: the Control of Dogs Order 1992 (collar and tag) and the Microchipping of Dogs (and Cats) Regulations 2024 (chip). This page explains what each law actually requires, what it does not require, and what makes practical sense in 2026.

Last updated 5 May 2026 · by Dan Holland, Founder

UK pet tag law is surprisingly short and surprisingly specific. Two sets of regulations cover the collar and the chip. Neither overlaps with the other — a microchip does not remove the need for a tag, and a tag does not replace the microchip. Both are required for dogs. Only the chip is required for cats in England as of June 2024.

The Control of Dogs Order 1992 — collar and tag

This is the primary law governing what a dog must wear in a public place. The text of the order is short — it fits on a single page. In summary, it requires that a dog in a public place wear a collar with the keeper's name and address inscribed on it, or on a plate or tag attached to it. That is all. The law does not require:

a phone number on the tag
the dog's name on the tag
any electronic or QR component
the tag to be any particular material or size

In practice, a finders' phone call is the single fastest way to reunite you with your dog. We recommend putting your phone number on the tag even though the law does not require it. A QR code can sit alongside the legal minimum — it does not replace it.

UK dog and cat microchipping law — the regulations

The Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2024 (and earlier 2015 regulations for dogs) and the Microchipping of Cats (England) Regulations 2024 set the chip requirements. They are similar in structure:

Dogs:must be microchipped by 8 weeks of age. Keeper's details must be registered on a compliant database. Failure to comply within 21 days of a notice can result in a fine of up to £500.
Cats (England, from 10 June 2024): must be microchipped by 20 weeks of age. Same fine structure for non-compliance.
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland: dog microchipping is law across the UK. Cat microchipping had not been enacted in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland at the time of writing — check with your local authority for the current status.

The compliant database requirement

A microchip is only useful if the keeper's details are registered on a compliant database. A compliant database is one that is approved by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The main compliant databases as of 2026 are:

Petlog (operated by the Kennel Club) — the largest in the UK
Animal Microchips Ltd (AML)
ProtectedPet
AVID

If your pet was chipped by a vet or breeder, check that the registration has been completed and that your details are current. Many chipped dogs are reunited with their owners only after a vet discovers the chip is unregistered or registered to the breeder's details.

QR tags, AirTags and the legal requirements

No electronic or digital tag — QR, NFC, Bluetooth, GPS — is a legal substitute for the collar-and-tag requirement under the Control of Dogs Order 1992. That order was written before smartphones existed and requires physical, legible text on the collar or a plate attached to it. The practical implications for QR tags:

A QR tag alone does not meet the legal tag requirement for dogs. You still need the keeper's name and address visible on the collar. See our guide to what a QR pet tag is and how it works alongside the legal minimum.
An AirTag or GPS tracker does not meet the legal tag requirement. It also doesn't solve the finder-communication problem — it tells you where the dog is, not how to get the dog home. See our comparison of QR pet tags vs Apple AirTag for the full picture.
The most legally compliant and recovery-effective setup in 2026: a legal tag (name + address) alongside a QR tag on the collar, and a microchip registered to your details. The QR handles the finder-recovery flow; the legal tag handles the law. See our guide to what a QR pet tag is and how microchips and QR tags work together.

Frequently asked questions

Does my dog legally need to wear a tag with my phone number?
No. The Control of Dogs Order 1992 requires a dog in a public place to wear a collar with the owner's name and address inscribed on it or on a plate attached to it. It does NOT require a phone number. A phone number is strongly recommended though — and a Snifftag QR tag goes a step further: the finder taps once and texts you their location directly, no number to dial and no number printed on the tag for a stranger to copy down.
My dog has a microchip — do I still need a collar and tag?
Yes. Microchipping does not replace the collar-and-tag requirement. The chip is read by a vet or warden with a scanner; a tag can be read by any member of the public who finds your dog. Both are required simultaneously. A Snifftag is the tag side of that pairing — engraved with your name and address (legally compliant) and backed by a QR code so the finder reaches you in seconds rather than waiting for the dog to end up at a vet.
Are cat collars and tags legally required in the UK?
No. There is no UK law requiring cats to wear collars or tags. Cats are not covered by the Control of Dogs Order 1992. Outdoor cats benefit just as much as dogs from being identifiable, however — Snifftag's cat tag is sized and weighted for breakaway collars and gives any finder a one‑tap way to reach you, which usually beats waiting for the cat to be scanned at a vet.
When did UK dog microchipping become law?
April 2016. Since 6 April 2016, all dogs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland must be microchipped by the time they are eight weeks old. The keeper's details must be registered on a compliant microchip database. Unchipped dogs can be seized and the keeper fined up to £500 if they fail to chip their dog within 21 days of being served a notice. Note that the chip helps after the dog reaches a vet or warden — a Snifftag works in the meantime, the moment a stranger first picks up the dog.
When did cat microchipping become law in the UK?
June 2024. From 10 June 2024, all cats in England must be microchipped by the time they are 20 weeks old. Keepers have 21 days to comply after receiving a notice or face a fine of up to £500. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not yet introduced mandatory cat microchipping at the time of writing. As with dogs, the chip is the long‑term proof of ownership; a Snifftag QR tag on the breakaway collar is what helps a stranger return your cat the same evening.
Which microchip databases are compliant in the UK?
Any database accredited by the Secretary of State. As of 2026, the main compliant databases include Petlog (the Kennel Club's database), Animal Microchips Ltd (AML), ProtectedPet, and others. When you microchip your pet, check that the database you're registering with is on the government's approved list. One advantage of Snifftag's recovery flow: it is independent of any microchip database, so even if your chip details are out of date the QR scan still reaches you directly.
I bought a QR tag — does it count as meeting the legal tag requirement?
It depends on the tag. A QR code alone does not display your name and address, which is what the law requires on a dog's collar. Snifftag prints the owner's name and registered address on the front of the metal disc (legally compliant under the Control of Dogs Order 1992) and the QR on the back for the modern recovery flow — so a single tag covers both the legal minimum and the practical recovery advantage. A bare QR-only sticker without engraved owner details would not be legally sufficient on its own.
What happens if my dog is found without a collar or microchip?
A dog found in a public place without a collar and tag can be seized by a dog warden. If the dog is unchipped and the keeper fails to comply with microchipping requirements within 21 days, the keeper can be fined up to £500. A Snifftag covers both legs of that risk: it satisfies the engraved‑name‑and‑address tag requirement, and the scan-and-alert flow means the dog is far less likely to end up in council hands in the first place.