Ennvironment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Written evidence submitted by Susan Harris

I believe the way forward is better education in our schools and home. Most attacks happen in the family home and children need to be taught more about animal behaviour and boundaries regarding all dogs and other animals. Also some form of enforced training when you purchase that cute puppy.

I do not believe that discriminating against certain breeds works to stop dog attacks and only punishes innocent dogs and their owners, most of these dogs have never given any cause for concern and are punished simply because of their, looks and measurements. BSL should be repealed.

Something more needs to be done to regulate back yard breeding and believe breeding should only be done by accredited responsible people and be better controlled. I also believe puppy farming should be ended, these people are churning out litter after litter of often sick puppies the parents being bred time after time in often horrendous conditions. Our rescue centres are overflowing with abandoned and often abused animals.

Increase sentences for people who abuse animals and also do more to end the disgusting practice of dog fighting in the UK. These animals are often kept in horrific conditions pumped full of steroids and forcibly trained to become dog aggressive and other people left to pick up the pieces of their sad lives IF they survive.

Finally while I agree postal workers and delivery, workmen etc should be able to enter your property safely I think the idea that burglars and uninvited people could break into your locked garden or property and be protected by the law if they get bitten by the family dog.

What has happened in the UK? We used to be known as a nation of animal lovers, now it is fast becoming the opposite.

From a concerned responsible dog owner and animal lover.

April 2013