Harsher penalties for dangerous dog owners
New legislation could mean that dog owners will face 14 years in prison if their dog fatally attacks somebody. This is according to latest proposals from the government, and is expected to come into force in 2014 if approved.
In a written statement, Defra's secretary of state Owen Paterson announced that under the new legislation, if a person dies as a result of a dog attack, the maximum penalty for the owner would be 14 years' imprisonment. The maximum sentence currently stands at two years.
According to the statement, if a person is injured as a result of a dog attack, the owner could receive a maximum of five years in prison, or three years if their dog attacks or kills an assistance dog.
Leading animal welfare charity Battersea Dogs and Cats Home says it welcomes the news only "cautiously", as it feels more preventative action is required.
The charity fears the increased penalties will not be enough to deter the minority of owners who allow their dogs to become dangerously out of control, and says it is "disappointed" that the government is not doing more to prevent these offences at an earlier stage.
Nigel Yeo, Battersea's director of operations, said: "Battersea supports harsher penalties for irresponsible dog owners. Serious dog attacks can devastate our communities and we must have appropriate sentencing that matches the severity of the crime.
"However there is still a real need for more early prevention to stop attacks happening in the first place. So we're calling on the government to take further steps to tackle the owners of dangerous dogs before they ever reach the courts and introduce the right measures that will protect those most vulnerable to attacks."
The charity repeated its call for the UK government to adopt Dog Control Notices, which would mean the owners of out of control dogs would have to neuter their dog, muzzle it and keep it on a lead in public and attend a training course.
Concerns have also been raised about whether or not responsible owners will be protected in the new legislation, ensuring that they will not be punished if they have taken all reasonable steps to prevent an incident.
Mr Yeo concluded: "We recognise that the majority of dog owners are responsible, but sadly it only takes one bad owner to bring about tragic consequences. We must tackle this problem head on and harsher sentencing is just the beginning."
The proposals are to be considered by parliament and, if approved, new legislation is expected to come into force in 2014, following Royal Assent of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
