Dangerous Dogs Act

Alex lives with Sian Morton and her husband, in Kent.
The five-year-old is a very sociable, happy and easy going dog who loves going for walks. He goes on social walks and absolutely loves it. His walkers work very hard to make sure he joins in with as much as possible but he can't chase a ball or play and run with his friends. He enjoys running but must always be attached to his lead and the person walking him.

He has a lot of dog friends who he plays with but he hates the muzzle he has to wear as part of his exemption conditions.

Emma Hindson, from Durham, adopted Zara from her local rescue centre. Suspicions that she might be a prohibited type of dog were first raised by her dog trainer, and so Emma contacted her dog legislation officer.

Following an assessment, Zara was found to be of type but, because she was so well behaved and had good character references from the trainer, she was allowed to stay at home until the day of the court case. She was returned the following day having been exempted.

Mason, lives with Sean Andrews and his family in Enfield, London. He is on the exempted list, and has achieved his gold citizenship award in training and regularly attends shows. He’s also helped owner Sean through some difficult times.

“Shortly after Mason came home I lost my father quite suddenly and was at rock bottom,” Sean says. “I decided I needed something, or someone, to turn to and that was Mason.”

RSPCA welcomes parliamentary inquiry into flawed law and calls for new legislation to better protect public safety and dog welfare

The RSPCA has today (Friday 11 May) welcomed an inquiry by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee into the current legislation on dangerous dogs.

The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) has added its voice to the growing chorus of concern over the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA), 1991. The Act bans four types of dog, judging them by looks alone, rather than taking their behaviour into account, and the RSPCA, the Blue Cross and Battersea Dogs Home have brought out reports calling for change to the legislation.

The RSPCA wants people to demand that the Government launch an inquiry into how the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) applies breed specific legislation.

The Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in 1991, and applies breed specific legislation via section 1. The RSPCA has this week released their report into the effectiveness of the act. Appropriately – in many ways – the report is called, Breed Specific Legislation: A Dog’s Dinner.

Charity acknowledges commitment to tackling dog-related issues but slams recommendations to extend breed specific legislation

Dog law delays are unacceptable claim RSPCA

Public pressure is key to lobbying Government department

The continued persecution of dogs based on their physical appearance is unacceptable and the law needs to change, the RSPCA says.

Britain’s biggest animal welfare charity claims the Government is dragging its heels over promises to reform dog control legislation – despite nearly nine out of 10 people arguing that the current law doesn’t protect the public effectively.*