SIX MILLION dogs in England and Wales may have to be micro-chipped and owners forced to take out third-party insurance to cover injuries caused by their pets, under proposals put forward by the British government yesterday.
Home secretary Alan Johnson, a former postman who was twice attacked by dogs, has announced a three-month public consultation on the proposed changes, which will not become law before the general election.
The proposed measures have the support of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats, although both have criticised Labour’s failure to curb the growth in the number of dangerous dogs in recent years.
Up to 100 people a week in England and Wales have to be treated in hospital for dog bites, compared to about 60 in 1997. Complaints about dogfights have risen 12-fold since 2004, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In 2008/09, there were 4,810 attacks by dogs on Royal Mail staff – a rate of 92 a week, up from 4,067 in 2007/8.
Under the much-criticised Dangerous Dogs Act, it is illegal for any breed to be out of control in a public place or in a private place where it was not allowed to be – but this does not include the property of their owners.
Four breeds – pitbull terriers, Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasiliero – are banned, unless special exemptions are made. However the ban is being widely breached by those wanting to own so-called “status dogs”.
Under Mr Johnson’s proposals, police and council wardens would be able to issue fixed-penalty bills for breaches, or to order owners to fence in, neuter or muzzle dogs, or order their owners to go on a dog-handling course. Any breaches could lead to prosecution, a fine or even prison if animal cruelty were involved. The worst owners would be banned for life from keeping a dog and unruly animals would be destroyed.
A Metropolitan Police unit, which has seized more than 1,000 dogs, including 900 pitbulls, since it was formed in March last year, reports that criminals have bought dangerous breeds in place of guns in some districts in London.