Tougher penalties for owners of dangerous dogs that injure or kill are overwhelmingly backed by the public, a Mirror poll has found.
Some 86 per cent said they would support the crackdown as attacks soar.
The vast majority also want all dogs to be licensed and microchipped and for the government to take action against unlicensed breeders.
Nearly three-quarters believe the current rules on owning and breeding dangerous dogs are too relaxed, the Deltapoll survey found.
It comes after a recent investigation by the Mirror found hundreds of potentially dangerous dogs, including breeds such as XL American bullys and American bulldogs, can be brought online without any checks.
In one of the latest reported attacks, Paul Jennings and his wife Sasithon were walking on the pavement near the Kingston-Upon-Thames town centre with their Beagle Cody on April 8 when a massive German Shepherd broke free from its owner and lunged at them.
Sasithon jumped in front of Cody to protect him as the massive dog bit her leg.
CCTV footage shows Paul tackling the beast to the ground to get it under control before the owner manages to put the lead back on and walks off.
The couple, from nearby Surbiton, phoned the police and were taken to A&E where she was treated for a bite in her calf.
The number of savage dog attacks reported to the police has soared by 46 per cent in the last five years.
In the last year alone there were 12 fatalities and more than 20,000 injuries as a result of out-of-control dogs.
The Mirror’s Tame the Danger Dogs campaign is calling for an overhaul of the Dangerous Dogs Act and more controls on the ownership of potentially lethal breeds. Some 65 per cent of those polled agreed that there should be stricter laws on breeding and keeping dangerous dogs.
RSPCA dog expert Dr Samantha Gaines said the focus should be on tough controls rather than on the breeds themselves.
She added: “The RSPCA has long held the view that, when it comes to dog bite incidents, it isn’t about breeds.
“Any dog has the potential to bite, so a key requirement is effective legislation which doesn’t focus on certain types or breeds but provides for early intervention and ways of preventing incidents from occurring or escalating.
“We are pleased to see the focus of any debate on this issue shift away from breeds and to solutions which we have long called for, such as dog licensing.
“A licensing scheme has the potential to generate money that could be used to help improve dog welfare and tackle the issues around dog ownership including dog health and welfare, antisocial behaviour involving dogs, dog bite incidents, stray dogs, population issues and risks to human health.”
