CALL FOR ACTION OVER DOG OWNERSHIP

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/195 ... -ownership" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Animal charities and leading trade unions joined forces to call on the Government to improve laws on dog ownership in a bid to offer more protection to members of the public and workers, as well as the animals.
A coalition of 20 groups issued a statement demanding action against irresponsible dog owners, arguing that current legislation was "inadequate".

The statement, sent to Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and acting leader of the Opposition Harriet Harman, said: "We believe that irresponsible dog ownership, whether it is allowing dogs to stray, be dangerously out of control or indiscriminately breeding them, causes significant problems for the safety and welfare of both humans and animals. Current legislation is proving inadequate in many cases to ensure sufficient protection."

"We believe that both the provision of sufficient resources at a local level for local authorities and the police, and updated and consolidated legislation that has a genuine preventative effect, are needed to address this problem.

"We call on the coalition Government to act and bring forward legislation that addresses these areas effectively."

The move came ahead of a summary of responses to a government consultation on dog legislation which has received thousands of responses.

Groups signing the statement included the Communication Workers Union, which represents postal staff, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Guide Dogs For The Blind, the Police Federation, the TUC and the RSPCA.

More than 5,000 postmen and women are attacked by dogs every year as well as more than 400 telephone engineers when doing house visits.

Around half a million people are bitten or attacked by dogs each year, but there are fewer than 650 convictions annually.

[oypostie]

Good on them.

I'm sure Royal mail will be adding their support shortly