June 2014 - DANGEROUS
DOG ACT -Recent changes
Written by Helen Pratt BVSc MRCVS GP Cert SAM
Previously, much emphasis has been placed on incidents of aggression in restricted breeds such as
the Pit Bull Terrier. Changes in the Dangerous Dogs Act have come into force last month due to
repeated incidents. The changes hope to reduce dog attacks and put more onus on the dog owner to
ensure their dogs are kept under control at all times.
The changes that have been made affect the whole dog-owning population. In essence, it means
that dogs have to be considered under control and not dangerous in any situation, both in public
and now also on private property i.e. anywhere within your house and garden, except for illegal
trespass. Stiff penalties are in place for those who allow their dog to be dangerously out of control,
including some long prison sentences! The phrase “dangerously out of control” is subjective; the
dog does not have to actually bite someone, but if someone feels they may be injured, the dog is
considered a potential danger.
Please visit our website for more information
(http://www.stanleyhousevets.com/cats-dogs/).
Training from an early age to ensure socialisation, both in and out of the house, will be of ever
increasing importance. We can help you with early training issues, or refer to others if needed for
more complex or deep-seated problems, hopefully before an issue arises. We recommend attending
our regular nurse clinics with your adolescent pup to discuss basic training.
Ownership issues are being addressed by the phasing in of compulsory microchipping and
registration of all dogs over 8 weeks of age by April 2016. The microchip has a unique number which
can be used to access the details of the registered keeper.
June 2014 is National Microchipping Month to raise awareness and increase
the number of chipped animals. Horses, dogs, cats; even birds and tortoises- all can be chipped
these days. Cats, I think, are especially important to have chipped due to their outdoor lifestyle and
the distances they may travel, often in a vehicle that isn’t their own!
Unfortunately we have a fairly large throughput of lost animals at Stanley House, a consequence I
suppose of being a large town practice. A most satisfying occurrence is when we can rapidly reunite
a lost pet with its worried owner by scanning for a chip.
Microchipping can be done at any age. The chip, which is about the size of a grain of rice, is
implanted under the skin between the shoulders in a very quick injection.
Stanley House Vets will insert microchips at an offer
price of £10.00 in June if you quote ‘2br’.
For this you get lifelong registration of your pet at the given address. But don’t forget - if you move,
you must change your contact details with the chip company!!!! (Very frustrating otherwise for all
concerned).
Colne 01282 863892, Barnoldswick 01282 852390,
Burnley 01282 421215, Nelson 01282 616650 Email: liz@stanleyhousevets.co.uk
BANNED BREEDS
Obviously the Dangerous Dog Act is designed to protect the public from any breed of dog
behaving aggressively, but there is specific legislation against the keeping of certain breeds.
JAPANESE TOSA - A large muscular powerful mastiff-type guard dog, this is the Sumo Wrestler of the
dog world. Bred as a Japanese fighting dog, the Tosa was expected to fight without cowering whilst
staying completely silent.
DOGO ARGENTINO - The Dogo Argentino, another large breed powerful mastiff type, was bred in
the 1920’s as a fearless pack hunter and guard dog. It was designed to hunt down large game such as
wild boar and puma. It is banned in at least 10 countries including the UK, Australia, New Zealand
and Portugal.
FILA BRAZILIERO - The Brazilian Mastiff. This highly protective guard-dog with some bloodhound
ancestry was used to track and hunt boar, jaguar and even runaway slaves.
PIT BULL TERRIER - Probably the best known of the banned breeds, the Pit Bull was originally bred in
England by crossing Bulldogs and Terriers. It was used for the bearbaiting, bullbaiting and fighting
trade that was eventually made illegal in the UK in 1835. They were also exported to USA, and as
well as their purpose in clandestine underground fighting activities, they were popular cattle/farm
dogs due to their strength, loyalty and tenacity. Although from similar roots,
it is this “American” pit bull, as opposed to the much smaller Staffordshire
bull terrier, which is the banned breed type.
It is in this area of relative subjectivity that the problem lies - Pit bull and Pit
bull-types are banned; but specific criteria are looked at. If the police Dog
Legislation Officer decides a dog fits into this category, it is up to the owner
to prove that it is not of that genetic origin.
If suspected to fit into the category of Pit bull/Pit bull-type, the dog will be seized awaiting
assessment to decide if it is deemed a threat to the public. If considered a danger, euthanasia will be
carried out. If the dog is considered safe, a Certificate of Exemption will be issued but the dog must
be chipped, neutered, on a lead and muzzled in public at all times.
Although not all of these dogs are aggressive dogs by any means, their genetic make-up has been
generally honed for fighting. Unfortunately, certain areas of society have encouraged an increase in
aggression due to their use as “status dogs”, and a lack of correct training and socialisation in such a
strong tenacious dog is bad news. They have such a well-developed bite, hold and shake, that an
attack can be relentless, and fatalities are unfortunately not uncommon, especially in children. This
type of dog, statistically, has caused a large percentage of historical human fatalities from dog
attacks, leading to their banned status.
Colne 01282 863892, Barnoldswick 01282 852390,
Burnley 01282 421215, Nelson 01282 616650 Email: liz@stanleyhousevets.co.uk