Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Written evidence submitted by Miss Hayley Parr

I, like many others am increasingly alarmed by the number of dangerous dog attacks. It is seemingly OK to have a “status” dog. Only very rarely do we hear of them being put down.

Microchips would obviously be useless against irresponsible owners as they would never bother with having them done. Dangerous “weapon” dogs should and must be put down. Howa many more attacks must we put up with before something is done?

My dogs are always on leads in public places. I have had several “near misses” with loose dogs. Passports were brought out for horse owners like me. They were expensive—and useless to me. It was another tax on the “rich” sadly. Now there is talk on microchips. Please realise that microchipping will only be done by responsible dog owners. Not the idiots that we so desperately need to target.

I am a huge animal lover and dog owner, but sadly I see no other option but to put dangerous dogs down. I do not want to hear about any other pets or children being killed, or horribly injured.

Please take drastic action and let me walk my own dogs out in safety.

July 2012