Post by cenydd on Aug 6, 2013 17:25:17 GMT
The owners of dogs that attack and kill someone could face life in prison under new proposals for England and Wales.
The current maximum prison sentence for allowing a dog that kills or injures someone to be dangerously out of control is two years.
The government has proposed a number of sentencing options for a fatal dog attack - from five years to life. But the RSPCA said more needed to be done.
Sixteen people have been killed by dogs in the UK since 2005.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23578561
I certainly agree that sentences for irresponsible and dangerous dog owners should be increased. At the moment they are laughable.
This point from the above article is critical, though:
But animal welfare charity the RSPCA said more should be done to stop attacks happening in the first place.
"Unless you solve this problem of people not being able to control their dogs properly then I still think you're going to see a rise in dog attacks and dog biting," said head of public affairs David Bowles.
They need to start addressing the issue of prevention - that is what can actually have the most significant impact. People who own dogs should be aware of their responsibilities and how they can fulfil them, just as car drivers have to be, and gun owners have to be. It might be a deterrent, but it's really not much help to dead people if the people responsible for their death are put in prison for life! Much better to deal with the issue of irresponsible dog owners before such a serious incident actually occurs.