Call for focus on irresponsible owners

09.03.10

We are calling for irresponsible pet ownership to be the focus of the government’s newly announced public consultation on dog law.

We welcome the Home Secretary’s announcement today that the government will hold a serious debate on how best to tackle anti-social behaviour with dogs.

We have long called for more effective legislation that puts greater emphasis on punishing irresponsible dog owners who cause animals to suffer, rather than the breed or type of dog concerned.

Claire Robinson, RSPCA government relations manager, said:
 

There is a real need for updated legislation that enables enforcers to tackle the problem effectively and prevent serious incidents from occurring, rather than waiting till after a tragedy or penalising certain dogs just because of their breed or type.

The RSPCA has been working with the police and local authorities to develop good practice in this area and also consolidate and update legislation that will tackle the root cause of the problem, indiscriminate breeding and irresponsible dog ownership.

A ‘genuine debate’ on the subject

Claire commented: "It is fantastic news that the government has opened a genuine debate on the subject and given the public a chance to have their say on the best way to tackle the issue of dogs being used anti-socially."

She said vets at our animal hospitals, as well as many of the our inspectors out in the field, come across dogs on a daily basis that have suffered cruelty or neglect at the hands of irresponsible owners.
 

It needs to be remembered that dog welfare isn’t just about ‘dangerous dogs’. Strays and over-breeding are also areas that would need to be properly addressed as part of any comprehensive dog welfare strategy.

“We look forward to going through the consultation documents in full and submitting our response to Defra,” added Claire.

Launch follows visit to animal hospital

The government’s public consultation was launched following a visit to Harmsworth Animal Hospital, in north London, by Home Secretary Alan Johnson, and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn MP, yesterday.

Mr Benn met hospital director David Grant who explained how he and his team have to treat and care for thousands of animals each year as a direct result of irresponsible dog ownership.

Find out more

Read about our work at Harmsworth Animal Hospital.
 

Owning and caring for a dog is great fun and immensely rewarding. But it is also a big responsibility. Find out about your duty of care to your animals in the Animal Welfare Act.