Irresponsible dog ownership

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Blog: After 21 years of waiting for a revision on dog laws, is this it?

The government in Westminster's announcement on new proposals to update dog laws in England fail to address the real issues associated with irresponsible ownership. Read the full story...

 

The 42 Teeth Campaign 

All dogs have 42 teeth. All dogs have the potential to be dangerous... in the wrong hands. Irresponsible dog owners allow their dogs to foul, stray and cause a nuisance. Some even encourage their dogs to be aggressive or attack people or other animals.

 

Dogs who have irresponsible owners are very often victims of cruelty and neglect themselves. To encourage them to be aggressive, dogs may suffer violence at the hands of their owners. The RSPCA has seen dogs with broken bones, animals covered in burns and even dogs attacked with glass bottles. The number of abandonments, particularly of large bull breed dogs, has increased so much that RSPCA rescues are crammed to bursting.

 

Urgent action is needed! 

Dog owners need to be held accountable for their actions, which includes taking responsibility for their dogs behaviour and training. Current legislation is failing to tackle the problem of irresponsible dog ownership and since the introduction of The Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991, the situation has been getting progressively worse for both people and animals.

 

How the legislation needs to change: 

• Most dog attacks happen in the home, but current legislation does not cover private property, so many irresponsible owners are not held accountable for attacks.
• Emphasis on prevention by education and engagement.
• Compulsory microchipping and dog registration is vital but details must be held in a centrally held government database which is kept up to date if it is to be effective.
• A comprehensive approach to tackle irresponsible dog ownership that prevents serious incidents from occurring rather than waiting for them to happen before action can be taken
• Measures to improve dog welfare – especially for those that are seized as part of investigations
• The abolition or phasing out of Breed Specific Legislation

 

How can I help?

Millions of dogs continue to suffer due to government’s failure to take meaningful action on this issue. Imagine how many more dogs will suffer if we have to wait another 20 years for a revision of the law! Click the button to take action!