UK story. Potential jail for certain dog owners.

time lord

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2144506/Danger-dog-owners-pets-harm-face-minimum-months-jail.html

F.Y.I.

WolfgangWeisen

Vague, shallow and reactionary legislation that does nothing but punish dogs further for their owner's failures.

Zapperzy

WolfgangWeisen wrote: »

Vague, shallow and reactionary legislation that does nothing but punish dogs further for their owner's failures.

How? From what I gather it's the owners being put in jail? Doesn't say what they plan for the dogs though?

Is it just me or does the picture look like a cute little puppy sneezing? Certainly doesn't look like something that'd make me run away in fear!

SillyMangoX

Zapperzy wrote: »

How? From what I gather it's the owners being put in jail? Doesn't say what they plan for the dogs though?

Is it just me or does the picture look like a cute little puppy sneezing? Certainly doesn't look like something that'd make me run away in fear!

That's the first thing I thought as well, not even the slightest hint of a lip curling snarl, just a cute lil staffie showing off his teeth while having a sneeze

WolfgangWeisen

Zapperzy wrote: »

How? From what I gather it's the owners being put in jail? Doesn't say what they plan for the dogs though?

Is it just me or does the picture look like a cute little puppy sneezing? Certainly doesn't look like something that'd make me run away in fear!

New guidelines also urge the courts to have dangerous animals put down...
The guidelines also urge the courts to use powers to put down dangerous animals

Now, I'm not sure of the quality of the wardens in the UK, however I personally would not like to see charlatans like **name removed**being given even more power essentially than they already have. Who is it that will be determining whether these dogs are "dangerous"? Expert behaviourists, or chancers who managed to get a job they're totally unfit for such as the aforementioned warden? If the latter, then surely it'll just be more ignorant destruction of dogs.

This part also irked me:

he most serious cases, such as repeated attacks or where the victim is a child or elderly, should be punished more severely, with 18 months in jail.

What kind of affect will this have on people's willingness to socialise their dogs properly? If even a small incident involving a child and a dramatic parent could see them with 18 months in a prison?

Again, the dogs have the potential to lose out there.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for punishing shít dog owners, in fact I'd love to see lots more of it. However, the question is who'll be judging the difference between a provoked one off incident and an attack by an unsocialised or abused animal. To little Johnny's mother, when Johnny gets a bite off the JRT down at the park after pulling at its ears, it may as well be the same as a "dangerous" breed coming out of nowhere and letting its prey drive run wild on a small human.

There's a lot of "ifs" and "depends" involved but that's why I hate vagueness in such legislation.

Zapperzy

Well in fairness it is from the daily mail, I haven't read into it further so maybe it's just bad journalism making it sound vague? Certainly a step in the right direction.

DamagedTrax

unfortunatly the daily mail didnt report it all. there is also talk of sentences for people training dogs to fight, including possesion of 'paraphenalia'. ie the same equipment used by anyone doing sports with their dogs - spring pole, flirt pole, treadmill etc :mad:

SillyMangoX

DamagedTrax wrote: »

unfortunatly the daily mail didnt report it all. there is also talk of sentences for people training dogs to fight, including possesion of 'paraphenalia'. ie the same equipment used by anyone doing sports with their dogs - spring pole, flirt pole, treadmill etc :mad:

I would think if you could provide evidence of the equipment being used for sport rather than illegal activities (any prizes, reports from what ever official bodies govern the sports ect.) that you would not be charged? The only think ive heard of that you mentioned is the treadmill :P

Hellrazer

Ive edited a post here to remove a persons name.

This could get boards into trouble.