Dog owners have been urged to brush up on the strict laws on the pets amid a worrying rise in fatalities from dog attacks.
The Department of Food, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ( Defra ) issued a statement following reports by The Mirror on the increasing number of dog attacks reported this year. “Dog attacks can have horrific consequences, which is why it is a criminal offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act to allow any dog to be dangerously out of control, with the police able to seize such dogs,” the department said.
They added: “There have been nine tragic fatalities this year as a result of dog attacks, several of which involving children. We take this disturbing rise extremely seriously and are exploring measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership.”
READ MORE: Vet explains why he would ‘never own’ five popular dog breeds due to health problems
Introduced in 1991, the Dangerous Dogs Act also banned four breeds of dog in the UK, the Liverpool Echo reports . These breeds are:
-
Pit Bull Terrier
-
Japanese Tosa
-
Dogo Argentino
-
Fila Brasileiro
This means that it is illegal to own these breeds, even if they are not acting dangerously or no-one has complained against them. It is also against the law to sell, abandon, give away or breed from a banned dog.
The police or local council have the authority to seize dogs if they belong in this group - and the criteria depends on what the dog looks like, rather than its breed or name. A dog expert will then judge the dog and whether they could pose a danger to the public.
It is the owner’s responsibility to prove that their dog is not a banned type - if you can’t, you may receive an unlimited fine as well as facing up to six months in prison for breaking the law. In some cases a court may decide that the dog is not a danger to the public, in which case the owner will be given a Certificate of Exemption valid for the remainder of its life.
Any dogs who are put onto the Index of Exempt dogs must be neutered, microchipped and kept on a lead and muzzled at all times while out in public. The owner must also take out insurance against the dog injuring other people.
Defra has urged the public to follow the following three key pieces of advice:
-
Be alert – Always keep an eye on your children around dogs. Never leave them alone together.
-
Be aware – Dogs use signals to tell us how they feel – What is your dog telling you?
-
Be safe – Any dog can bite. Accidents happen fast.
READ NEXT:
-
Meet Theo - the pup helping students at a North East school learn Spanish
-
11 rescue dogs in Newcastle looking for a loving new home - including a tiny puppy
-
'He makes people's lives better' - Cherished Hexham Hospital Cat wins PDSA commendation
-
Spaniels and corgis on list of ‘vulnerable’ dog breeds at risk of disappearing in the UK
-
Dog owners warned over ‘serious disease’ caught from drinking or swimming outdoors
