MAN's BEST FRIEND?
Government ministers are planing a reform of the law regarding dangerous dogs in the UK. But how long has the government been trying to tackle this problem? It may surprise you to know that dog law has existed since the Roman times. The ancient Lex Pesolania was probably the first edition of the Dangerous Dog Act., which made owners responsible for any anti social behavior of their dogs.
Dogs featured greatly in early Roman lives, often used as weapons of war and kept as pets. In the third century anti social dog behavior was such a big problem that a law was passed to make owners responsible for any injuries suffered or damage caused as a result of a dog attack. According to the late historian and liberal MP John Roby "if a dog was in a square or public road and not tied up in the daytime and did any mischief, the owner was liable".
The first fines for anti social dog behavior came about under Alfred the Great. The law dated back to 849 AD, said "If a dog tear trouser or bite a man, for the first misdeed let six shillings be paid." Fines multiplied if there were repeat offences.
In 1839 the Metropolitan Police Act said, "Victorian Londoners could be fined up to 40 shillings if they let their dog loose in any thoroughfare or public place". "Anyone with an unmuzzled ferocious dog that they allowed to attack or put in fear any person, horse, or other animal was liable". Elsewhere in England, owners faced a 40 shilling fine or two weeks in prison under the Town Police Clauses Act of 1847, if their dog was deemed to be dangerous and not on a lead. The law was extended to "every person in every street". The power to sieze a dog was given to authorities almost quarter of a century later.
In 1871 the Dogs Act was created.
How has the rest of the world dealt with this issue?
Several states have considered banning specific dog breeds since the formation of the Dangerous dog act of 1991. The RSCPA reported that European and world governments introduced legislation as a direct result of media pressure following a spate of fatal dog attacks in the UK.
Vancouver, Canada and Belgium decided banning specific breeds would be ineffective. Do they know something we dont? A review of Dutch dog laws found their act failed to control the banned types or reduce the numbers of attacks on humans. One country however carried out a study and found that their legislation had been effective. Cutting the number of reported bite incidents on a regular basis. In France in 2000 a new law and a fine of £10,000 on owners of un-nuetered pit bull type dogs and other banned breeds was introduced.
Some facts: Dog attacks are on the rise, The number of people convicted for dangerous dog offences rose almost 40% between 2009 and 2010.
There are an estimated 5000 dog attacks on BT, Royal Mail and Parcel Force staff in England every year. Dog related hospital admissions have more than doubled from 2915 in 1997 to 6118 in 2010. Dog attacks alone have cost the NHS £3.3 million in 2009 in treatment costs.
Clearly this is a very very old problem that is not about to go away. Creating laws which ban specific breeds or meet out punitive measures does not address the problem at its grass roots. It merely closes the kennel door after the dog has bolted. Picking on specific breeds is tantamount to racism. Any dog in the wrong hands not properly socialised is a potential biter. The only way to eradicate this problem is to make training and socialisation of puppies from an early age compulsory. and it must be undertaken by qualified trainers and training schools. Then and only then will we see an environment where man and dog can live in harmony, unafraid of each other and become again 'Man's best friend'.
Dogs featured greatly in early Roman lives, often used as weapons of war and kept as pets. In the third century anti social dog behavior was such a big problem that a law was passed to make owners responsible for any injuries suffered or damage caused as a result of a dog attack. According to the late historian and liberal MP John Roby "if a dog was in a square or public road and not tied up in the daytime and did any mischief, the owner was liable".
The first fines for anti social dog behavior came about under Alfred the Great. The law dated back to 849 AD, said "If a dog tear trouser or bite a man, for the first misdeed let six shillings be paid." Fines multiplied if there were repeat offences.
In 1839 the Metropolitan Police Act said, "Victorian Londoners could be fined up to 40 shillings if they let their dog loose in any thoroughfare or public place". "Anyone with an unmuzzled ferocious dog that they allowed to attack or put in fear any person, horse, or other animal was liable". Elsewhere in England, owners faced a 40 shilling fine or two weeks in prison under the Town Police Clauses Act of 1847, if their dog was deemed to be dangerous and not on a lead. The law was extended to "every person in every street". The power to sieze a dog was given to authorities almost quarter of a century later.
In 1871 the Dogs Act was created.
How has the rest of the world dealt with this issue?
Several states have considered banning specific dog breeds since the formation of the Dangerous dog act of 1991. The RSCPA reported that European and world governments introduced legislation as a direct result of media pressure following a spate of fatal dog attacks in the UK.
Vancouver, Canada and Belgium decided banning specific breeds would be ineffective. Do they know something we dont? A review of Dutch dog laws found their act failed to control the banned types or reduce the numbers of attacks on humans. One country however carried out a study and found that their legislation had been effective. Cutting the number of reported bite incidents on a regular basis. In France in 2000 a new law and a fine of £10,000 on owners of un-nuetered pit bull type dogs and other banned breeds was introduced.
Some facts: Dog attacks are on the rise, The number of people convicted for dangerous dog offences rose almost 40% between 2009 and 2010.
There are an estimated 5000 dog attacks on BT, Royal Mail and Parcel Force staff in England every year. Dog related hospital admissions have more than doubled from 2915 in 1997 to 6118 in 2010. Dog attacks alone have cost the NHS £3.3 million in 2009 in treatment costs.
Clearly this is a very very old problem that is not about to go away. Creating laws which ban specific breeds or meet out punitive measures does not address the problem at its grass roots. It merely closes the kennel door after the dog has bolted. Picking on specific breeds is tantamount to racism. Any dog in the wrong hands not properly socialised is a potential biter. The only way to eradicate this problem is to make training and socialisation of puppies from an early age compulsory. and it must be undertaken by qualified trainers and training schools. Then and only then will we see an environment where man and dog can live in harmony, unafraid of each other and become again 'Man's best friend'.
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