mypetfriends.co.uk

There has been a call for changes to the law on dangerous dogs after 5 year old Ellie Lawrensen was mauled to death by a type of Pitt bull terrier at her grandmother’s house in St Helens, Merseyside (UK) in the early hours of New Years day.

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The post mortem revealed she died of severe head and neck injuries. It has also emerged that the dogs owner (believed to be the young girls uncle) was warned by the local council a few months ago about the behaviour of the dog after it attacked another dog.

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The Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) says that if you own a ‘type of pitt bull terrier’, you must have it neutered and both muzzled and on a lead in public places.

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However, it has been strongly criticised, as it doesn’t apply to cross breeds – for example, the American Bull terrier or the Staffordshire bull terrier cross. Both of these dogs fall outside the legislation.

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Campaigners for pet care suggest that the law needs to be changed. Currently, the law says that you can tell from the look of a dog to see how it can behave. However, what dogs do and what their potential is, rather than what the dog actually looks like, should be taken into account. Moreover, the dangerous dogs act does not cover people in their own private homes. It is this part of the law that needs looking at as most people who are bitten by dogs, are bitten by a family or neighbours dog.

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