The most dangerous dog breeds – including four that are banned in the UK
Dangerous dogs: Expert says pet dogs ‘need training’
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Welsh police said the 10-year-old-boy was attacked by a dog in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, Caerphilly, on Monday at about 4pm. Emergency services were rushed to the scene but the boy was pronounced dead by paramedics. Gwent Police said the dog was destroyed by firearms officers. The breed has not been made public as police investigations continue, but one local said the dog “has been a nuisance on the estate for a bit of a time.”
There are laws in place intended to protect the public from potentially dangerous dogs.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 restricts certain types of dogs and sets out a criminal offence for allowing a dog of any breed to become dangerously out of control.
Under the Act, it is illegal to own the following four breeds in the UK:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
The police or local council have the legal right to remove these dogs from owners, even if it’s not acting dangerously.
However, campaigners have long sought to have the law amended, saying the banned dogs are at risk of unfair penalties when other dog breeds are responsible for attacks, too.
The law states: “Whether your dog is a banned type depends on what it looks like, rather than its breed or name.”
Campaigners say this clause isn’t fit for purpose, with individual dogs not judged on temperament.
Earlier this year, the Scottish SPCA called for dogs to be judged according to “deeds not breeds”.
In 2018, former Labour MP Gordon Marsden, who owns a rescue dog, said the thought of his pet
being destroyed “because her face did not fit in court is chilling”.
MPs have also said the law is dysfunctional because the majority of deaths caused by dogs since the bill was passed in 1991 have been by non-specified breeds.
The UK government said public safety was “at the heart” of the act.
But many campaigners and animal experts have said the issue lies with the owners, more than the breed of dog.
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Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “While we fully support legislation to protect the public, we believe any breed of dog can be potentially out of control and dangerous in the wrong hands.
“We’d like to see a bigger focus on legislation that ensures responsible dog ownership rather than punishing individual dogs for the way they look if they haven’t harmed anyone.
“At the very least, we’d like to see the law amended so banned breeds and types who come into our care can be rehomed.”
Mr Flynn said the charity’s teams often cared for banned dog breeds for months or even years, only to have to put them to sleep as they could not be legally be adopted.
He added: “Often these dogs have great temperaments and no behavioural issues but still need to be euthanised when, if they were any other breed, they’d be off to a loving home.
“It’s heartbreaking for everyone involved.”
Dog owners can read all the rules and regulations in place here.
Note that you can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to 6 months, or both, if your dog is dangerously out of control, and you may not be allowed to own a dog in the future
.
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