[Cagdu] Fwd: [nagdu] UK: Owners of killer dogs may face life: Crackdown after 16 fatal maulings in eight years

[tina thomas]

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> From: "Ginger Kutsch" <GingerKutsch at yahoo.com>
> Date: August 6, 2013, 7:17:41 AM PDT
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>, "New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users" <njagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [nagdu] UK: Owners of killer dogs may face life: Crackdown after 16 fatal maulings in eight years
> Reply-To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> 
> UK: Owners of killer dogs may face life: Crackdown after 16 fatal maulings
> in eight years
> 
> •Owners of killer dogs could face life in prison, according to a new
> proposal
> 
> •At the moment there is a maximum of two years inside
> 
> •Some 16 people have been killed by dangerous dogs since 2005
> 
> August 6, 2013
> 
> By Daniel Martin
> 
> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2385048/Owners-killer-dogs-face-life
> -Crackdown-16-fatal-maulings-years.html
> 
> The owners of killer dogs could face life in jail under proposals put
> forward by ministers.
> 
> 
> 
> Sixteen people have been mauled to death since 2005, but the law states dog
> owners can only go to prison for a maximum of two years.
> 
> 
> 
> Ministers have now launched a public consultation as to whether owners
> should face jail terms of up to ten years if their pet injures someone and
> life for a fatal attack.
> 
> 
> 
> Higher sentences for irresponsible owners who allow their dogs to attack
> members of the public have been put out to consultation by the Government
> 
> Killing or injuring a guide dog could also attract a maximum penalty of ten
> years.
> 
> The move comes months after Jade Anderson, 14, was killed by four dogs while
> visiting a friend near Wigan.
> 
> 
> 
> Every year dogs are responsible for 210,000 attacks – around 6,000 of which
> lead to hospital visits.
> 
> 
> 
> The Government said it would introduce new measures to tackle out of control
> dogs
> 
> The CWU union representing postmen and telecoms engineers – who suffer 5,000
> attacks a year – welcomed the move, pointing out that at present some owners
> are fined just £100 if their dog attacks.
> 
> General secretary Billy Hayes said: ‘Current sentencing arrangements do not
> match the serious nature of offences. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ‘This consultation is very welcome and hopefully indicates the Government is
> serious about tackling the problem of irresponsible dog ownership.’
> 
> The consultation was launched yesterday by the Department for the
> Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
> 
> Members of the public will be asked their opinion on the severity of
> punishments, with recommendations put forward in the Anti-Social Behaviour,
> Crime and Policing Bill.
> 
> Animal welfare minister Lord de Mauley said: ‘Dog attacks are terrifying and
> we need harsh penalties to punish those who allow their dog to injure people
> while out of control.
> 
> ‘It’s crucial the laws we have in place act as a deterrent to stop such
> horrific incidents.’
> 
> Last month Jade Anderson’s parents, along with the parents of four-year-old
> John Paul Massey – who died after his uncle’s pitbull attacked him in 2009 –
> presented a petition to Downing Street calling for David Cameron to take
> action to prevent more attacks.
> 
> 
> 
> Four-year-old John Paul Massey was killed by a dog in a house in Wavertree,
> Liverpool
> 
> In February the Government said it would introduce new measures to tackle
> out of control dogs by changing the law to ensure irresponsible owners can
> be prosecuted regardless of where their dog attacks.
> 
> But David Hanson, Labour’s policing spokesman, said: ‘The Government’s
> proposals on dangerous dogs are weak.
> 
> ‘As the victims of dog attacks, select committees, the RSPCA and the British
> Veterinary Association have made clear, the Government should legislate for
> “dog control notices” which would give local councils and the police the
> powers they need to make sure owners are responsible and dog attacks are
> stopped.’ 
> 
> 
> 
> Crime prevention minister Jeremy Browne said: ‘Dog owners who fail to take
> responsibility for their dogs must be held accountable.
> 
> ‘This Government is taking urgent action to protect the public from out of
> control dogs. We are changing the law so owners can be prosecuted for
> attacks on private property and our anti-social behaviour reforms will give
> police and local agencies more effective powers.’
> 
> A report published in June  by the charity Guide Dogs revealed attacks by
> other dogs on guide dogs are at an all-time high of ten a month.
> 
> A total of 240 attacks were reported between March 2011 and February 2013.
> 
> 
> 
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