DOGS TRUST KEEPS UP PRESSURE TO REFORM DANGEROUS DOGS LAWS

UK ’s largest dog charity urging for calm over dangerous dogs and focus on ‘deed not breed’

Dogs Trust, the UK ’s largest dog welfare charity, is keeping up pressure on government, policy-makers, media and local authorities to take a balanced approach to tackling dangerous dogs, and not to give in to a knee-jerk response to the events of new year’s day and the tragic death of five-year old Ellie Lawrenson.

Dogs Trust’s view is that the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) needs urgent review in order to tackle the real problem of aggressive dogs not by definition of breed, but by enforcing effective controls of any dog who shows unwarranted aggression, whatever their breed, and imposing strict conditions on the owners of such dogs.

This position has been widely reported in national and regional media, and the charity is now focussing on discussions with central government to push for an urgent but considered review of the DDA, and warning that an emotional and rushed response will simply repeat the mistakes of the original DDA.

The charity is also warning that rushing to bring in amnesties for pit bull-type dogs will not tackle the problem of aggressive dogs in the long-term, but could simply mean the destruction of a large number of dogs simply on the basis of their breed, and will also do nothing to tackle the owners who are deliberately encouraging aggression in their dogs.

Dogs Trust has been in discussions with several local authorities who are implementing amnesties for pit bull-type dogs, including attending a recent meeting held by Merseyside police and attended by all six local authorities in Merseyside, where the force confirmed an amnesty would be brought in on 22 nd January.

Clarissa Baldwin, Dogs Trust Chief Executive, said:

“It is really worrying as we are seeing a similar situation to what happened in the late 1980s, where legislation was rushed in as a knee-jerk reaction to hysterical media coverage of so-called dangerous dogs. It is essential that whatever action is taken has to be the best course in the long-term. Sadly, these amnesties will not tackle the problem as the policies remain fixated on a dog’s breed, rather than its deed. Until we bring in effective controls for dog owners of all breeds based on a dog’s behaviour, and put resources into enforcing this, some reprehensible owners will continue to encourage aggression in their dogs, while innocent dogs are destroyed simply because of their breed. We must keep calling for a thoughtful review of the law itself.”

Over the last two weeks Dogs Trust has also seen a marked increase in the number of dogs abandoned and handed over to its rehoming centres, with particularly large numbers of Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Staff are particularly saddened by this as many dogs have been loving and beloved family pets for years. Dogs Trust is urging dog owners not to panic that their dog will suddenly become aggressive, and has issued guidance for anyone concerned about their dog’s behaviour. 

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