Will Scotland's New Dog Law Hold Owners Accountable?

Scotland FlagUnder a new dog law passed in Scotland last week, owners of dangerous dogs will be fined up to £1,000 if they fail to control their pets.

Called the Dangerous Dogs Act, owners who do not control their dogs could also be forced to have them neutered, forced to keep them on a leash at all times or be sent to training courses.

This law updates previous legislation said to discriminate against named breeds. It also closes a loophole that meant the owner of a dog that attacked a child in its home could not be held responsible if the breed was not listed as dangerous.

The legislation was welcomed by The Dogs Trust’s Clarissa Baldwin, the charity’s chief executive, who said: “This places a legislative focus on the deed, rather than the breed of dog, and will rightly hold irresponsible dog owners to account.”

The act was first proposed in the Scottish Parliament by Nationalist MSP Christine Grahame.

She said: “This bill gives local authorities and the police the legislative tools to deal with the growing problem of out-of-control dogs.”

By Elaine Furst For Dog Files

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Topdogroomer
Topdogroomer
13 years ago

As founder of “Pawsitive Action” voluntary group we received to assist our communities and our Park Rangers and Wardens. We bring updated educational awareness to the general public and dog owners. Renfrewshire Council has given us their full support including giving us permission to teach dog training classes in and around Renfrewshire. We encourage and support “Responsible Dog Owners”. We support the new law, if you can’t get your dog back on a recall…then go to training class and learn. There are 46 parks and beaches in Eng and Wales closed to dog owners….I don’t want it to happen here in Scotland and if that means “Irresponsible” dog owners pay the consequences….go for it….. it should be them and not us…. “Responsible Dog Owners”!

Jimsilvey
Jimsilvey
13 years ago

Published on Thursday 10 March 2011 07:00

I am writing in response to the article printed last week in relation to the newly-introduced Control of Dogs (Scotland) legislation.

It is unfortunate that the article was printed on the same day as two other articles that were published in other newspapers in relation to the true purpose of this legislation.

The first article highlighted the horrific injuries received by a seven-year-old boy in the west of Scotland, who was attacked by a terrier at the gates of his school. This event could have been more tragic if it had not been for the quick action by another child’s parent who managed to stop the attack. However, the child was still at risk of losing an eye.

The second article involved a young man in the north of Scotland who was jailed for three years after using his dog as a weapon to attack another person.

These are two incidents reported on the same day and both clearly highlight the need for the Control of Dogs legislation.

The Scottish SPCA has been involved throughout the passage of this legislation, the whole aim of which is to identify irresponsible ownership and ultimately protect the public, something that the law did not allow prior to the introduction of this act.

Contrary to your contributor’s statement, this legislation will not affect responsible owners or lead to sanctions against dogs of any breed carrying out the normal acceptable behaviour of any properly socialised and trained dog.

This legislation is enforced by the local authority which will have to assess each report on its own merits, with some of the sanctions available being as simple as keeping the dog on a lead or keeping away from school gates etc.

This is hardly draconian legislation and should be welcomed by all responsible dog owners.

Mike Flynn

(chief superintendent, Scottish SPCA)

Kenn Bell
13 years ago
Reply to  Jimsilvey

Not sure what article you are talking about? This one? Because we are for keeping dog owner’s responsible and not blaming a particular breed.

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