New dangerous dog laws are being considered more seriously after a Wandsworth Council-backed bill received House of Lords support last week.
New dangerous dog laws are a step closer to reality, after a Wandsworth Council-backed bill received House of Lords support last week.
Lord Redesdale’s Dog Control Bill, which would replace existing ‘flawed’ dog laws, will now be debated in the House of Commons.
If passed, the Bill will remove breed-specific laws, introduce Dog Control Notices for dogs that act dangerously, and make dog attacks on private property an offence.
It would also crack down on the owners of out-of-control dogs.
The Council is a leading member of the Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group (DDASG), a group of animal welfare organisations and local authorities championing the Bill.
Mark Callis, Wandsworth Dog Control Service Manager and DDASG chairman said problematic dogs in the borough are usually that way because they had been treated badly.
He said: “This Bill will give us the powers we need to tackle the root cause of the country’s dangerous dog issues – bad owners.”
The Kennel Club is the UK’s largest organisation dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs, and as part of DDASG, had significant input into the development of the Bill.
Communications Director Caroline Kisko said: “The priority must be to crack down on irresponsible owners who fail to train, care for and socialise their dogs, rather than wasting already overstretched police resources seizing banned breeds and their lookalikes simply because they are of a certain type.”
Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Redesdale said the Bill would go a long way towards protecting the public and ensuring responsible dog ownership.
The Kennel Club’s petition has so far received over 13,000 signatures. It can be signed at www.gopetition.com/petitions/repeal-and-replace-the-dangerous-dogs-act.html. Further information on the Bill can be found at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/928.
