changedoglaws

Bid to change dog laws launched

Friday, December 12

Steps are being taken to tighten up the law surrounding dangerous dogs. Dangerous dogs have been controlled by legislation since the 1870s but the latest act rushed through in 1991 after a spate of attacks has never been popular and campaigners have long been calling for change.

The Kennel Club have been working on the Dog Control Act with Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Redesdale and a number of other organisations to provide assistance and advice in drafting the bill which will be tabled in Parliament later.

Caroline Kisko from the Kennel Club says "the current law is draconian, severely flawed and a does little to protect the public."

Lord Redesdale stated that "The dangerous Dog act is a bad piece of legislation that places the responsibility on dogs, this bill puts the responsibility on the owners themselves."

Edward Lister who is a member of the Dangerous Dog Act Study Group (DDASG) believes that the measures outlined in this bill together with the microchipping scheme will help police and local councils to combat the growing culture of using dogs as weapons.

The Bill is being tabled in the House of Lords and would make attacks on private property an offence and outlaw the breeding or keeping of dogs for fighting.

If passed it will introduce three major changes.

1. The dogs' behaviour and owner treatment will determine any risk to the public regardless of breed.

2. Attacks on private property will become a criminal offence whereas the current act only applies to those taking place in public.

3. Breeding dogs for fighting or keeping a dog that has fought before will be an offence.