Time To Change Dogs Laws Says CWU And RSPCA

As MPs return from their summer break, animal charity RSPCA and communications union CWU say changes are urgently needed to dangerous dogs laws as the number of attacks hits thousands of people and costs tens of millions of pounds.

CWU and RSPCA joined a cross-party delegation of MPs to meet Lord Henley, the minister responsible for overseeing dogs laws, this week with the aim of keeping the pressure up on the government to address this important issue. Lord Henley was presented with a strong case for updating and consolidating current laws (Dangerous Dogs Act 1991) which are not fit for purpose.

CWU health and safety officer Dave Joyce said:

"Lord Henley accepted the points in our argument and the meeting was positive, but we've been here before. Everybody present acknowledged the case for changing the law - to better protect people and animals, to save NHS money and to streamline legislation.

Our members - in particular postmen and women - are being attacked by dogs every day and are left vulnerable because of out-dated laws which the government has promised to change. We've had the sympathy but now we need the substance."

Claire Robinson, RSPCA government relations manager, said:

"It is vitally important that we keep the pressure on the Government to address the failure of current dog legislation as a matter of urgency.

Recent statistics show both animal welfare and public safety continue to be compromised by laws that have proven to be ineffective in too many instances.

There is a clear need for effective legislation that prevents animals and humans from suffering, rather than react once an incident has already happened."

• There are 6,000 dog attacks on postal workers every year (works out at 11-12 per day)
• In 2009 55% of complaints RSPCA received on dog fighting concerned 'street fighting'
• 7 guide dogs are attacked each month by dogs
• Hospital admission statistics for 2010-11 show 6,120 people admitted (1 in 6 of these involved are children under 10)
• The estimated cost to the state of dealing with issues relating to irresponsible dog ownership is £76.8 million, which does not include the costs of dog welfare enforcement.

Northern Ireland and Scotland have recently changed their domestic law on dogs and Wales is looking at it positively. The CWU and RSPCA have pressed for Westminster to follow suit.

CWU and RSPCA say new legislation needs to:

• provide greater powers and flexibility for enforcers and courts
• new preventative measures (rather than current reactionary) so that public money can be saved
• extend the law to cover private property
• a piecemeal approach is simply not good enough and will not provide better protection for the public or animals and will not save money

Source: CWU

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