11th December 2009

 Adrian will propose a motion to Council on Monday night on the control of dangerous dogs.

(1)   Council notes that legal provisions concerning dogs were, in particular, enacted under the Dogs Act 1871; the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; and, inter alia, the 1997 amendments.

(2)   Whilst the government is to be applauded for introducing control provisions for particular breeds experience demonstrates that tragedies continue to occur in private premises and open spaces.

(3)   Council notes that individuals with ill intent are easily able to acquire dogs that can be trained as ‘attack’ instruments.  Irrespective of intent anybody can acquire dogs that are not, under   extant legal provisions, deemed to be dangerous but may nevertheless through training for aggression, through ignorance or failure of training, or through neglect or any other reason, become hazardous in domestic surroundings or public places.  

(4)   The Government is therefore called upon to take urgent measures to:

1.  re-define the meaning of ‘dangerous’;
2. re-consider the range of breeds that may be deemed dangerous;
3. enact stricter measures of control; and
4. consider the feasibility and viability of re-introducing licensing of individuals seeking dog ownership.

Adrian's English Springer and Welsh Collie have just been for a muddy day out.

Lest anybody should think Adrian is against dog ownership, nothing could be further from the truth – as the picture on the left, of his own two dogs, shows. 

But despite legal measures the Labour Government has already introduced there are still far too many tragic incidents.