<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> "Ginger Kutsch" <<a href="mailto:GingerKutsch@yahoo.com">GingerKutsch@yahoo.com</a>><br><b>Date:</b> August 6, 2013, 7:17:41 AM PDT<br><b>To:</b> "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <<a href="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org">nagdu@nfbnet.org</a>>, "New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users" <<a href="mailto:njagdu@nfbnet.org">njagdu@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[nagdu] UK: Owners of killer dogs may face life: Crackdown after 16 fatal maulings in eight years</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <<a href="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org">nagdu@nfbnet.org</a>><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>UK: Owners of killer dogs may face life: Crackdown after 16 fatal maulings</span><br><span>in eight years</span><br><span></span><br><span>•Owners of killer dogs could face life in prison, according to a new</span><br><span>proposal</span><br><span></span><br><span>•At the moment there is a maximum of two years inside</span><br><span></span><br><span>•Some 16 people have been killed by dangerous dogs since 2005</span><br><span></span><br><span>August 6, 2013</span><br><span></span><br><span>By Daniel Martin</span><br><span></span><br><span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2385048/Owners-killer-dogs-face-life">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2385048/Owners-killer-dogs-face-life</a></span><br><span>-Crackdown-16-fatal-maulings-years.html</span><br><span></span><br><span>The owners of killer dogs could face life in jail under proposals put</span><br><span>forward by ministers.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>Sixteen people have been mauled to death since 2005, but the law states dog</span><br><span>owners can only go to prison for a maximum of two years.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>Ministers have now launched a public consultation as to whether owners</span><br><span>should face jail terms of up to ten years if their pet injures someone and</span><br><span>life for a fatal attack.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>Higher sentences for irresponsible owners who allow their dogs to attack</span><br><span>members of the public have been put out to consultation by the Government</span><br><span></span><br><span>Killing or injuring a guide dog could also attract a maximum penalty of ten</span><br><span>years.</span><br><span></span><br><span>The move comes months after Jade Anderson, 14, was killed by four dogs while</span><br><span>visiting a friend near Wigan.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>Every year dogs are responsible for 210,000 attacks – around 6,000 of which</span><br><span>lead to hospital visits.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>The Government said it would introduce new measures to tackle out of control</span><br><span>dogs</span><br><span></span><br><span>The CWU union representing postmen and telecoms engineers – who suffer 5,000</span><br><span>attacks a year – welcomed the move, pointing out that at present some owners</span><br><span>are fined just £100 if their dog attacks.</span><br><span></span><br><span>General secretary Billy Hayes said: ‘Current sentencing arrangements do not</span><br><span>match the serious nature of offences. </span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>‘This consultation is very welcome and hopefully indicates the Government is</span><br><span>serious about tackling the problem of irresponsible dog ownership.’</span><br><span></span><br><span>The consultation was launched yesterday by the Department for the</span><br><span>Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Members of the public will be asked their opinion on the severity of</span><br><span>punishments, with recommendations put forward in the Anti-Social Behaviour,</span><br><span>Crime and Policing Bill.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Animal welfare minister Lord de Mauley said: ‘Dog attacks are terrifying and</span><br><span>we need harsh penalties to punish those who allow their dog to injure people</span><br><span>while out of control.</span><br><span></span><br><span>‘It’s crucial the laws we have in place act as a deterrent to stop such</span><br><span>horrific incidents.’</span><br><span></span><br><span>Last month Jade Anderson’s parents, along with the parents of four-year-old</span><br><span>John Paul Massey – who died after his uncle’s pitbull attacked him in 2009 –</span><br><span>presented a petition to Downing Street calling for David Cameron to take</span><br><span>action to prevent more attacks.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>Four-year-old John Paul Massey was killed by a dog in a house in Wavertree,</span><br><span>Liverpool</span><br><span></span><br><span>In February the Government said it would introduce new measures to tackle</span><br><span>out of control dogs by changing the law to ensure irresponsible owners can</span><br><span>be prosecuted regardless of where their dog attacks.</span><br><span></span><br><span>But David Hanson, Labour’s policing spokesman, said: ‘The Government’s</span><br><span>proposals on dangerous dogs are weak.</span><br><span></span><br><span>‘As the victims of dog attacks, select committees, the RSPCA and the British</span><br><span>Veterinary Association have made clear, the Government should legislate for</span><br><span>“dog control notices” which would give local councils and the police the</span><br><span>powers they need to make sure owners are responsible and dog attacks are</span><br><span>stopped.’ </span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>Crime prevention minister Jeremy Browne said: ‘Dog owners who fail to take</span><br><span>responsibility for their dogs must be held accountable.</span><br><span></span><br><span>‘This Government is taking urgent action to protect the public from out of</span><br><span>control dogs. We are changing the law so owners can be prosecuted for</span><br><span>attacks on private property and our anti-social behaviour reforms will give</span><br><span>police and local agencies more effective powers.’</span><br><span></span><br><span>A report published in June by the charity Guide Dogs revealed attacks by</span><br><span>other dogs on guide dogs are at an all-time high of ten a month.</span><br><span></span><br><span>A total of 240 attacks were reported between March 2011 and February 2013.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>nagdu mailing list</span><br><span><a href="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org">nagdu@nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:</span><br><span><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/judotina48kg%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/judotina48kg%40gmail.com</a></span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>