Posted by Schnoodle Mummy | Posted in General Dog Topics | Posted on 13-08-2011
Tags: Blue Cross Charity, Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, Dog Argentino, Fila Brasileiro., Japanese Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler
Rottweiler Dog
Legislation designed to protect people for attacks by rogue dogs needs to be overhauled, according to a claim made by the Blue Cross Charity.
The charity feels that 20 years after the introduction by Parliament of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 the law is not working. The emphasis, the charity feels now needs to shift away from the certain dogs included in the ban to place responsibility on owners.
Rukhsana Khan was the six year old child attacked in Bradford who was left with serious injuries following a ferocious a dog attack in August 1991, which instigated the Dangerous Dog Act coming into force in the UK. Rukhsana, who was attacked by a Pit Bull Terrier, claims she is still terrified of dogs of a consequence of the attack in which she was thrown around like a rag doll receiving more than 30 dog bit wounds.
Four breeds are outlawed the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dog Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro.
Following the recent unprovoked beach attack in Southend on Sea last week on a 7 year old child by a Rottweiler the charity’s chief vet Richard Green told the BBC: Twenty years is a long enough time to see if a law is working or not, and that’s the amount of time it’s been around – and clearly it’s not because we’re still seeing large numbers of dog attacks. There is still a public safety issue here and i don’think that over those last 20 years that we’ve seen any improvements at all.
A new Dog Control Bill is being proposed by Lib Dem peer Lord Redesdale and is being back by the Blue Cross. The bill will be considered by the House of Commons after the parliament summer recess.
Should dog owners be held responsible for the actions of their dogs? What are your thoughts and suggestions?
[…] Don’t get me wrong I do understand that some irresponsible dog owners have made it necessary to ban dogs from family beaches. This summer in our area proved a very strong case in favour of banning dogs from certain beaches. A 7 year old child was very badly bitten and held under the water by an agressive, uncontrolled and unleashed Rottwieler. If it had not been for the quick thinking of the child’s Grandmother the boy could have died as a result of the attack. The little lad has undergone numerous operations to repair the damage inflicted by the dog. To date the owner of the dog has not be caught. See the post we wrote in August about this specific attack http://iloveschnoodles.com/blue-cross-charity-urges-review-of-dangerous-dogs-act […]