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Location: Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, Scotlan
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37
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Proposed Control of Dangerous Dogs (Scotland) Bill
A consultation has begun on a members bill at the Scottish Parliament by Alex Neil MSP on control of dangerous dogs. Initial reports indicate the Mr Neil has the support of the Scottish Government so there is a good chance that this bill could be taken forward in the Parliament.
You can view the consultation and proposed outline of the Bill at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3...ills/index.htm (it was lodged on 14 January 2008 and can downloaded as a PDF).
I haven't read the Bill in full but the idea of "Deed not Breed" is good. It recognises that the current Dangerous Dogs Act is flawed and the new potential legislation should look at behaviour in attempting to define measures to protect the public from risk - defining by breed is not helpful as main issues are training and treatment are the main impacts
* introducing control orders for dogs that are dangerously out of control. This would include compulsory microchipping and the need for the owner to inform the authorities of changes of address. It would extend the law to gain control of dogs who attack other animals - not just humans.
*conviction of an offense - i.e. that your dog injured someone or another animal, could have various punishments including a control order, for example, insisting that the dog be kept on a lead or muzzled, that the owner attend a mandatory dog training course, that the owner is banned from keeping a dog, that compensation is paid to the injured party - obviously this will extend to imprisonment, a fine and in extreme cases, the destruction of the dog.
I would encourage as many owners in Scotland as possible to take part as there is a fair chance that this could become law. There are 7 consultation questions and responses need to be in by 4th April 2008.