Owners face dog control regulations

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/latest-scottis ... 5073431.jp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Courts will be given fresh powers to crack down on irresponsible dog owners, the new MSP behind legislation has warned.
South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame has taken over the task of steering the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Bill through Parliament.

It includes controversial proposals for dog Asbos and has already won the backing of postal workers unions.

"This Bill is to put in place preventative measures that can be used against owners who consistently fail to control their dogs," Ms Grahame said on Sunday.

"Responsible dog owners will welcome the power this gives courts to crack down on irresponsible owners, who allow their dogs to wreak havoc and endanger the safety of both humans and other dogs."

The dog Asbos would see problem pets micro-chipped to monitor their behaviour and owners instructed to try and improve their conduct.

The legislation was the brainchild of Ms Grahame's fellow Nationalist Alex Neil, but he was recently promoted to ministerial office which prevents him from promoting a members' bill. Ms Grahame hailed Mr Neil's "foresight and public spirit" for his work on the Bill.

Animal welfare organisations, dog experts and dog owners have all been officially consulted. Ms Grahame said the "vast majority" believe the Bill will strike a balance between improving public safety and "targeting only the irresponsible minority".

She added: "There are situations in the country where people use dogs as weapons, breed and train them to be aggressive and there is no legislation to protect people or other animals from them.

The Communications Workers' Union (CWU) have already backed the Bill and called for more "realistic penalties" to be handed down by the courts. According to the CWU, postal workers in the UK are victim to 5,000 - 6,000 dog attacks every year, with many resulting in serious injuries.

[brothermagrew]

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bi ... sFINAL.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Currently the law aimed at controlling dogs focusses on banning certain breeds of dog considered dangerous but takes no account of the behaviour of dog owners and has no effective preventative measures aimed at stopping dogs from getting out of control in the first instance. This Bill would introduce preventative measures in the form of a Dog Control Notice regime which places a duty on the owner of a dog which has been out of control to keep their dog under control at all times.

In addition, the current legislation does not cover incidents in private places of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control (i.e. attacking or causing reasonable apprehension that it will attack a person) for example, in their own home. Yet some of the most serious dog attacks of recent years have happened on private premises. The Bill would make it a criminal offence to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control in any place, public or private.

I believe the proposed Bill would ensure that dog owners have a clear duty to keep their dogs under control at all times, whether in public or on private property. I also believe it would improve public safety by encouraging more responsible dog ownership.

[smokerjim]

Once again it is Scotland and MSPs leading the way - when will English, Irish and Welsh posties get the same protection? In my estimation Welsh and Irish - 2010, 2011 tops. English? I'm not holding my breath ( but I might end up holding my dismembered fingers )

[brothermagrew]

Once again it is Scotland and MSPs leading the way - when will English, Irish and Welsh posties get the same protection? In my estimation Welsh and Irish - 2010, 2011 tops. English? I'm not holding my breath ( but I might end up holding my dismembered fingers )

brother smokerjim
There is currently a Private Members Bill (Introduced by Lord Redesdale) going through the House of Lords and has had it's First Reading on the 12th December 2008 Dog Control Bill [HL] 2008-09. Which will if made law extend to England and Wales only.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 009009.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;