Weak laws allow biting dogs to attack again, claim post staff

[postareale]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/weak ... -bm6979gv6

Weak laws allow biting dogs to attack again, claim post staff

Postal workers have called for dog control laws to be ripped up after claiming that they allow a “puppy pardon” for dangerous animals.

Royal Mail and the Communications Workers Union said current legislation did not effectively prevent dog attacks. Both claim that the police do not prioritise animal assaults and councils’ enforcement powers are not used effectively.

Currently, the law requires proof that the person in charge of a dangerous dog believed that it could attack someone. A successful legal action requires corroborating evidence, such as a previous bite or poor temperament.

Dave Joyce, national health, safety and environment officer at CWU, said: “The ‘one free bite rule’ as is presently applied in Scotland provides a shield for the owner and tells the irresponsible dog owner that it is OK for their dog to bite someone and that there are no consequences when this happens.

“We see repeat offenders who are dealt with by the police issuing cautions or community resolution orders which frankly don’t work. Postal workers seem to be regarded as fair game by some.”

The CWU said in a submission to Holyrood’s public audit committee, which is examining the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, that there were 230 dog attacks on postal workers in Scotland last year.

Royal Mail said the laws were weaker in Scotland than in England and Wales. “It is particularly striking that if the dog is passed to a new owner the dog is allowed another ‘free bite’,” it added.

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “The SNP might like to think it is getting tough when it comes to the crackdown on dangerous dogs but instead it is facilitating a puppy pardon.”

Councils, farmers and animal groups have called for a national database to be created to help co-ordinate complaints and said that local authorities did not have the resources to invest in properly trained dog wardens to tackle problems.

Highland council highlighted a case in April when a dog owner was prosecuted under the dangerous dogs act and fined after a child was bitten on the stomach last year. The same dog bit her 16-year-old sister two weeks later.

“No police action was taken after the second incident and the case referred to the council,” the council said.

The National Farmers Union of Scotland and Scottish Land and Estates said the act had not been effective in reducing the number of dogs that worry livestock, with figures from this year’s Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime campaign showing a 50 per cent increase in the number of incidents reported to Police Scotland.

Meanwhile the National Dog Warden Association (Scotland) said complaints such as fouling and barking dogs were not being effectively investigated because “there are not enough hours in the working week”.

Police Scotland said most of Scotland had seen “a clear reduction in the number of ‘out of control’ dogs or dog attacks since the legislation was introduced”.

In its submission, the force suggested there could be greater information sharing and collaboration between local policing divisions and dog wardens. It said councils could take on more work with better training.

“When one division observed it had a higher record of ‘out of control’ dog incidents than the rest of the country, it enhanced the training and awareness to local officers of the act and the ability of the local authority to deal with such incidents,” it said. “As a result, the number of recorded ‘out of control’ dog incidents dropped significantly.”

A Scottish government spokesman said: “A record number of dog control notices were issued in the year February 2017-18, with some 339 dog control notices issued across Scotland. We support the use of this legislation by local authorities to help encourage responsible dog ownership.”

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[Navalron]

Carry a cattle prod on your walk and zap any f.....r man or beast who tried to sink your teeth into you. They won't try a secondtime , lol.