Higher sentences for owners of dangerous dogs

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/owners-of-dogs-who-kill-could-face-14-years-imprisonment

thanks for posting claire  

Totally agree with the increased sentences, but the following statement worries me a little...

"We’re also giving local authorities and the police new powers to nip issues in the bud and take action before a dog attack takes place."

Caryll wrote:Totally agree with the increased sentences, but the following statement worries me a little...

"We’re also giving local authorities and the police new powers to nip issues in the bud and take action before a dog attack takes place."

Yes caryll  it's very very worrying

subject was on the j.v. phone-in talk show today :
i.e. attacks on guide dogs
starts @ 01:35:30
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03ffgdg

£500 says this will develop into police seizing dogs if they think the weedy owner isn't fully in control of it in a public place, irrespective of whether anything bad has happened, or not.

That is very worrying too.............

Caryll wrote:Totally agree with the increased sentences, but the following statement worries me a little...

"We’re also giving local authorities and the police new powers to nip issues in the bud and take action before a dog attack takes place."

Always a catch...but if they are anything like existing laws its a toothless threat. All spin and no guts... when was the last time you heard of an owner prosecuted for there dog not wearing tags??? I see lots of them each day without a collar let alone tags. I work with two police officers and they say dogs are way down on there list of priorities. I give em a hard time for it but they have to do what they are told. More worryingly neither knew what type was and even what a dlo is... stunned to say the least...
How does the government expect to police the laws when those that are supposed to be upholding them dont even know whats involved in a ruling that took place over 20 years ago..

That's the catch, Nathan, isn't it? The police don't know what the hell's going on, so how can the law be effective and fair?

More knee-jerk legislation to high-profile dog attacks.  With less and less 'city folk' owning or being exposed to dogs, their ignorance of them increases. The general public need to be educated that dogs of any breed are not inherently aggressive or dangerous. They also need to learn the correct way to approach a dog or when to not approach at all!!  

As a recent rescue, and until he fully has my trust, Ozzie's meetings with new people, especially children are supervised by me or my wife. He has never shown any aggression, but can get bouncy when excited.

I am a great believer in colour-coded dog leads and also compulsory microchipping and licensing / registration.

But ultimately it is us, the responsible owners who do this while the ignorant few try to spoil it for us.

I like the idea of the colour coded leads etc, but for them to be effective everyone else needs to be aware of their meaning. Otherwise people will just walk straight up to you and ask what it means which kind of defeats the purpose.

Kathy wrote:I like the idea of the colour coded leads etc, but for them to be effective everyone else needs to be aware of their meaning. Otherwise people will just walk straight up to you and ask what it means which kind of defeats the purpose.

Very true  

And we are back to the subject of educating the ignorant  

the police will be targeting rudeboy kids or shady people that well know with dog IMO i cant see them targeting people like us

I can garuntee you won't see the owner of a jack russel or a yorkie in jail, it will only be the owners of the bulls.