RSPCA calls for change in Dangerous Dogs Act - to stop animals being put down
The RSCPA is calling for a change in the law - which sees dogs being put down based on the way they look.
The RSCPA is calling for a change in the law - which sees dogs being put down based on the way they look.
A new report from the charity claims part of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is ineffective and flawed.
This week marks 25 years since the introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) 1991 which applies breed-specific legislation - BSL - via section 1. It means animals who present characteristics of a banned breed can be put down, without consideration of their behaviour.
The report - Breed Specific Legislation: A Dog’s Dinner - claims this part of the act has failed to meet its goals of improving public safety by reducing the number of dog bites and eliminating dogs that are prohibited. Indeed more dog bites are reported now than ever before and the numbers of prohibited dogs continue to rise.
Many organisations agree that a breed specific approach is failing to protect public safety as dog bites continue to rise.
Because of section 1 of the DDA, the RSPCA has been forced to put to sleep 366 dogs over the past two years.
RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines said: “The police, the RSPCA and other animal rescue organisations have to deal with the consequences of this flawed law by euthanising hundreds of dogs because legislation is forcing us to due to the way they look, despite being suitable for rehoming. Not only is this a huge ethical and welfare issue, it also places significant emotional strain on staff.
“It is the view of the RSPCA, and the public, that every animal’s life matters.
Carol Eden from Knotty Ash had to give up her five month old puppy Fudge - after a neighbour thought he resembled a pit bull terrier type.
Fudge had been rescued at just six weeks old. Carol said she had no idea he might be identified as a suspected prohibited type
Carole says: “BSL was something I knew nothing about until the police knocked at my door late one night.
“Now I no longer respect the law that judges innocent dogs on how they look, even though it's filed under ‘legal’.
“I am left with a legacy of guilt for being naive and a fear of ever owning a bull breed again in case it happened again.
“The law is proven not to have worked and needs radical change.”