Campaign reply - Please attend the crucial debate for dogs on death row

Thank you for contacting me about dangerous dogs. 

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this debate due to urgent parliamentary business. However, I appreciate your strength of feeling on this important issue.

 

Last year, I had the great pleasure of meeting Sue Smith, the founder of K9 Crusaders. This small charity evolved to its current site at Bissoe in 2010 with help from supportive landlord Lord Falmouth, a small legacy and huge dedication from Sue and her passionate volunteers. 

 

While being given a tour, it was clear that Sue's life is dedicated entirely to helping as many vulnerable Cornish canines as possible. Her knowledge of 'everything dog' is vast, and you cannot help but sense that she goes above and beyond to pick up the pieces of broken little lives that could too easily be forgotten.  

 

One emotive topic of conversation was the Dangerous Dogs Act, and I met Eric, Sue's exempted Pitbull in the exercise paddock, who was one of the happiest, softest and most relaxed dogs you could meet. 

 

I also spoke with Phil Nankivell, who works closely with K9 Crusaders. Phil is a serving police dog handler and dog legislation officer with 28 years operational and practical experience. He is trained in the identification of prohibited breeds and his role is to deal with and advise on dangerous dog cases and intervention measures. 

 

My conversations with Phil and other volunteers have provided helpful insight into how we could amend the Dangerous Dog Act, and I have made this case to the Government.

 

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, it is a criminal offence to allow any dog of any breed or type to be dangerously out of control. The Act also prohibits certain types of dog that are considered a serious risk to public safety. These specific types of dogs are: Pit bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro. It is for a court to decide if a prohibited dog can be kept by someone once it has considered the dog’s temperament, among other issues. Conviction under this Act can lead to a prison sentence or a disqualification order which prevents the owner from keeping dogs for a certain period of time.

 

Further, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commissioned Middlesex University to explore measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership across all breeds of dog. Following the report’s publication, the Government established the responsible dog ownership project. This looks at strengthening enforcement; developing and supporting education initiatives; improving the quality and accessibility of dog training; and the importance of data collection across the system. I understand that this project is expected to conclude its work in 2023.

 

While ministers appreciate the strength of feeling about breed-specific legislation, I am aware that the Government must balance the views of those who want it repealed with ministers’ responsibility to protect the public. I know that the Government considers that repealing the breed-specific provisions without making other changes would not help public safety. However, I understand that the responsible dog ownership project will explore these issues more widely, and the Government will always ensure that public safety remains paramount.

 

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. If you require any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.