Fears owners could face up to five years in jail
Dog owners whose pets accidentally injure someone could face up to five years in jail under new Government proposals for tougher sentences, the RSPCA fears.
Britain’s biggest animal welfare charity welcomed this week’s proposals in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill to increase the maximum sentence for those irresponsible owners who fail to control their dogs in a way that puts the public and other animals in danger.
Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is disappointed by the Government’s response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee Report on Dog Control and Welfare, published yesterday (17th April). The response to the Committee’s recommendations highlights the Government’s piecemeal approach to tackling the various issues surrounding dog control and welfare, particularly dangerous dogs.
Defra recently revealed Government plans to tackle irresponsible dog ownership - you can read Defra's statement and how to respond in this previous blogpost. There has been disappointment within the dog world that the proposals didn't really tackle the issue of how to deal with dangerous dogs. The RSPCA is currently running a campaign called 42 Teeth - "All dogs have 42 teeth, but only some have irresponsible owners."
If you've followed this blog you may remember an appeal I wrote about to help get a Newfoundland dog called Bilbo reinstated to his work as a lifeguard on a Cornwall beach. You can read the full blog post here. The good news is that the Government have responded to the petition that was raised to support poor Bilbo.
This is the Government's response which can be seen in full here: