A New Report commissioned by the Government (costing £71,621) and researching dog attacks and what can be done to reduce these has now been published and can be found online here - www.randd.defra.gov.uk
Dog owners could be made to undergo compulsory training to prevent attacks as a new government-commissioned report concluded that owners, not breeds, are to blame.
This could mean that it will no longer be illegal to own “fighting dog” breeds, including pit bulls and Japanese tosas.
A government spokesman confirmed ministers were “carefully considering” the recommendations of the report, which would rip up the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and put the onus on irresponsible owners rather than particular breeds.
The report, by the University of Middlesex, states that dogs including Jack Russell terriers, Labradors and German shepherds have been involved in biting incidents.
It adds: “Participants almost unanimously cast doubt on the idea that breed was a cause of dog attacks, noting either that dogs are not inherently dangerous if properly socialised and engaged with using appropriate behaviours, or that all dogs could be dangerous if placed in the wrong situations and handled inappropriately.”
Illegal to own a dog without a licence
Instead, it recommends that owners are given compulsory training as a condition of purchasing a dog, and those who have animals that bite or attack humans or other dogs are forced to attend lessons similar to Speed Awareness Courses for drivers.
Owning a dog without a licence would become illegal.
Full article on The Telegraph
