Ennvironment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Written evidence submitted by Pamela Shaw

I understand comments on the recent amendment on the Dangerous Dogs Act are being welcomed and as such I would like to express my thoughts please.

I understand that the whole idea of the reconsideration to the said act is due to the very tragic incident which was covered in the national press. What I am trying very hard to understand is why is so much time and effort is being put into dealing with an event AFTER it has happened and not working toward PREVENTION of an incident? I have had many meetings with Mr Jeremy Brown MP to discuss the problems of dog incidents and responsible dog ownership and yet I am always being quoted that the government and DEFRA are dealing with it. This is a very emotive subject that is in danger of getting out of hand if not dealt with effectively and yet so very simple to solve. Respectfully, the answer is below.

I have been saying for so long that EDUCATION is the key to PREVENTION. All dog owners need to be educated in how to raise their dogs correctly to help them to understand the dog, keep people safe and to have well behaved dogs. Just as we have to become proficient in being allowed to drive a car, with a licence, insurance, so too should dog owners be made to be as responsible. It will bring in revenue and reduce the likelihood of incidences dramatically.

Wasting valuable time and taxpayers money to deal with prosecution AFTER the event whether on private property or not will clearly NOT solve the problems and is simply too little to achieve too much.

For too long now the idea that a dog, purely because of what it “looks” like can be regarded as a danger is nothing short of outrageous. Dogs behave the way they do because of a lack of training by the owner and a lack of education for the owner.....NOT because of its breed. This has been scientifically proven in the states and yet we as a nation continue to believe otherwise. That is like saying all youths who wear hoodies are troublemakers!

I have worked in the field of dog behaviour for eleven years and there has never been a dog’s behaviour that I was unable to help change, by teaching the owner why and how to change things through understanding dog behaviour through the eyes of the dog.

If you should disregard this email as just another person writing to complain, then that is your choice and on your conscience be it, but please do not disrespect the fact I do actually know what I am talking about and have proven it time and time again with the successful results I have achieved with my work.

We choose to have dogs share our lives, they do not have a such a choice and therefore we owe it to them to ensure their owners understand what makes them tick and to raise them correctly and effectively by law. I beg you not to waste valuable time and resources by “playing” at solving the problem. We need to look at this in depth by speaking to respected dog trainers and behaviourists not rescue organisations who most if the time will not even give a dog a chNce to be rehabilitated. We also have an obligation to stop the excessive breeding and in turn prevent the thousands of dogs being destroyed each day due to surplus to requirements. The dogs deserve better from us. Please consult those who know what they are talking about and can help to reduce these incidents. Making an amendment to a law to what is already seriously flawed is unacceptable.

April 2013