Ennvironment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Written evidence submitted by Gillian Hamilton

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to voice my opinions on the changes to Dangerous Dogs act.

Having invested a lot of time digesting the proposed legislation I feel it is going to be a complete failure on a bigger scale than the original, hastily enacted Act of 1991.

Once again the legislation does NOTHING to prevent out of control dogs. It does not address owner responsibility prior to an event taking place.

It will allow for:

“GRUDGE” complaints (ie, Escalated Neighbour disputes) innocent owners will be criminalized and innocent dogs seized and killed.

Racially driven complaints. The UK is has a much more diverse population, many ppl have been brought up to be afraid of dogs, dogs are an abomination, dogs are dirty etc.

Money Motivated Complaints. People will intentional trespass on a property in order to complain about being “afraid/threatened/attacked” in order to sue the property owner.

Criminally motivated offences. House breaking while the owner is not at home will increase, the criminal will get bitten by the dog protecting the home, then sue the householder. A bite which will cause the dog to be seized and killed and the responsible owner made a criminal.

As the draft is written all of the above will become an issue.

In addition the draft does nothing to address the hugely failed BSL section of the DDA.

Four breeds of dogs are banned. Three by breed name, one by type. The methods of determining “type” are outdated and controversial, depending on looks rather than demeanor. Many innocent families have been torn apart, many law abiding citizens have gained a criminal record, and many innocent animals have been slaughtered solely due to this hastily introduced, ill thought out, poorly worded section of the DDA. The burden of proof being reversed and the refusal of the courts to accept DNA evidence in individual cases.

The new legislation could, and most certainly should address this.

Extending the authority of local Dog Wardens etc. is a mistake, enforcing any new laws should fall within the authority of the local police ONLY.

I would suggest the following changes are considered.

1.Remove the BSL section of the DDA. (View each case on its own merit regardless of breed or look.)

2.Protect responsible dog owners and dogs against, False allegations, Civil/Criminal illegal activity (ie, trespass, illegal entry etc) and complaints based on racial/religious bias. Also protect dogs that are provoked by an intentional act of tormenting/cruelty.

3.Bring forward microchipping to be completed by December 2014. Allow NO dog to be sold, exchanged, or given away prior to being chipped.

4.Force ALL people who breed more than 1 litter per year to purchase a breeders license, and be open to unannounced inspections by the local authority, at any reasonable time. (between 8am–8pm on any day of the year.) Lay down provisions for kennel size, air and light, food and water.

5.Punish proven irresponsible owners (2nd offence) to the fullest extent of the law.

6.Issue warning citations to owners who behave in an irresponsible manner due to ignorance. (3rd warning resulting in hefty fines, life time ban, and possible prison time.)

7.Strengthen animal cruelty laws and sentencing. (Large fines and prison sentences.)

8.Make intentional dog fighting, people using dogs as a weapon, and intentional animal cruelty/torture/neglect, a clear stipulation of a criminal offence punishable by three to five years in prison.

9.Fines (on an increasing scale) for people who allow their dogs to free roam unaccompanied.

10.Leash laws and designated off leash dog areas to included woodland, fields, parks and beaches.

April 2013