MP calls for tougher action to stop dog attacks

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BOLTON West MP Julie Hilling has vowed to keep up the pressure for new reforms to tackle dangerous dogs.

Ms Hilling arranged a debate in the House of Commons about the death of Jade Lomas Anderson, the 14-year-old from Atherton who was killed by a pack of four dogs at a friend’s house.

The government announced tougher measures in the recent Queen’s speech but Ms Hilling said they do not go far enough.

Now she has organised a petition calling for a range of new measures, including the introduction of dog control notices which would give the authorities more power to intervene when dogs are suspected to be a potential danger, and to introduce compulsory microchipping.

Following the debate, Ms Hilling again challenged Liberal Democrat David Heath, minister of state for agriculture and food, with a further question.

She said: “Despite the minister’s assurances, the select committee on environment, food and rural affairs, all the animal welfare charities, the British Veterinary Association and the Communication Workers Union still believe we need dog control notices to prevent dog attacks and do not believe that the current proposals will do enough to prevent injuries to people and other animals by aggressive dogs.

“Will the minister please reconsider his position so that we can do more to prevent tragedies such as the one that befell Jade and her family from occurring in the future?”

He replied that existing proposals offered enough “flexibility”.

He said: “I do not think that having a proliferation of different measures with different labels, which I am afraid was a characteristic of the previous government’s approach, is necessarily the right way forward.

“We will be able to discuss this, however, in the context of the bill, and I hope we will come to a satisfactory conclusion.”

Ms Hilling told the Bolton News: “We have to keep the pressure up to make sure this legislation has preventative measures, and is not just about dealing with the aftermath of an attack.”

Jade’s father, Michael Anderson, said: “This is something Jade’s family welcomes.

“We are going for the same thing as Ms Hilling.

“For us, it’s about trying to do whatever you can to prevent these attacks happening in the first place.”