Posted on 07/06/2010 5:54:36 PM PDT by solosmoke
Animal welfare organisations, veterinary professionals and local authorities yesterday joined forces to condemn the much-criticised Dangerous Dogs Act, demanding that it must be replaced by a hard-hitting new Dog Control Bill focusing on prevention rather than cure. Existing legislation has failed to reduce the number of dog bite incidents in the UK, which have risen in the past five years by 79% in London and 43% nationally*.
If passed, the Bill will introduce major changes to current dangerous dog legislation, which is widely considered to be one of the most ineffective pieces of government legislation ever brought into force. These changes include .... More emphasis on the owner's responsibilities - the Bill supports the principle that it is the owner who has the potential to make a dog either well-behaved or badly-behaved... Attacks which take place on private property would also become a criminal offence - a large number of dog attack incidents occur within the home and on private property... Legislation will no longer be breed specific - since the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, public money and resources have been wasted by already overstretched police authorities seizing dogs simply for being of a particular breed or type. Research now overwhelmingly supports the principle of 'deed not breed', and proves that genetics (breed) play only a limited part in the temperament of an individual dog, with environment and training having a far greater effect.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalnewstoday.com ...
Latest news on the Bill
During second reading of the Bill on 24 April, a wide-ranging discussion took place on issues including the breeds of dogs to be covered by the legislation and the problem of dangerous dogs being used by gangs.
Lords Hansard: Dog Control Bill
Committee stage - line by line examination of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled.
Veeeeeeery interesting.
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