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The Law on Dangerous Dogs

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The Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 was created and passed in response to many incidents involving dog attacks that ended in serious injury or death. These attacks received so much media attention that a legislative response was necessary.

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act (and its amended version in 1997), a pet owner will need a specific exemption from court to own any dog included in the Index of Exempted Dogs. This was in response to cases where the dog may have fit the physical type for a dangerous dog, but in reality had a temperament that would make the dog quite the opposite.

Four particular breeds have been identified, in particular: the Pit Bull Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Brasileiro. Dangerous dogs have to be muzzled and kept on a leash when in public. These dogs have to be registered and insured, and have to be tattooed and must receive microchip implants. They should also be neutered. Breeding these specific banned types is also disallowed, as is selling and exchanging them. Crossbreeds with any of the four dog types also fall under the Act.

Identification by type

1Dangerous dogs are banned by type, and not by breed. The court decides if the dog is in the type, buy observing physical, but not necessarily breed-specific, characteristics.

This is where the Act is seen to be weakest, but this has since been addressed so that if you have a banned type of dog, you will be contacted by the Index of Exempted Dogs. You can then complete paperwork so your dog can be entered into the Index. This will stop any destruction order issued by the court.

Dog control

The owner is always responsible for the dog as long as it is in a public place. If the owner is not the one handling the dog, then the owner must prove that the person handling the dog at the time was one whom he or she believed to be a fit and competent person to be in charge.

If the owner is found guilty, he or she may have to pay a fine, or face imprisonment. In addition, the court can rule that the owner is disqualified from owning a dog for any period.

The laws on dangerous dogs are under scrutiny as yet more victims fall prey to dog attacks, the most recent of whom was 14 year old Jade Lomas-Anderson this month.


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