Post by cenydd on Sept 10, 2013 17:21:42 GMT
Dog owners will be safe from prosecution under revised dangerous dogs laws if their pet attacks someone trespassing in their home - even if the "intruder" is doing a good turn.
Ministers say dogs cannot be expected to "ascertain the intentions" of those entering a property before reacting.
The clarification comes in response to MPs who are scrutinising proposals to update the law in England and Wales.
The government plans to extend existing laws to cover dog attacks in homes.
It is currently updating the controversial 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.
At present, the act covers only attacks by dogs in public places and private areas where animals are banned from being - such as a neighbour's garden or a park.
Ministers say dogs cannot be expected to "ascertain the intentions" of those entering a property before reacting.
The clarification comes in response to MPs who are scrutinising proposals to update the law in England and Wales.
The government plans to extend existing laws to cover dog attacks in homes.
It is currently updating the controversial 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.
At present, the act covers only attacks by dogs in public places and private areas where animals are banned from being - such as a neighbour's garden or a park.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24020428
More confusion over the DDA, then - what a surprise! They are still tinkering around the edges without addressing the real problem with the nature of the act itself - the fact that it does nothing to address the root cause of the issue of dangerous dogs.
Does a dog owner not have a responsibility to train their dog not to attack random strangers, particularly not those who are invited into the house. The problem is not with the dogs...but with the owners.......but not a snowball's chance in hell that the Government is going to legislate to sort out bad owners.....easiest to just let the dogs off with tearing out throats because their owners have never bothered to train them.just as they let kids off with blue murder, just because their parents have never bothered to "train" them!