Dog bill ought not to be a snap decision

Published on Wednesday 18 November 2009 20:39

MIGHT it be an early return to the kennels for the Holyrood bill to introduce "dog Asbos"? The fear is that the new law would result in councils being inundated with complaints. The National Dog Warden Association warns that the proposal to crack down on irresponsible dog owners would create extra work and costs for councils.

Christine Grahame, the SNP MSP who is championing the Control of Dogs Bill says he is barking up the wrong tree. Her law would save on the considerable NHS costs of treating people after vicious dog attacks.

However, Ms Grahame's bill could lead to lengthy disputation in the courts, particularly over the power it would give to local authorities to apply to a court to have dogs destroyed. The warden association says this should not apply when a dog attacks an intruder. "A dog which bites someone who is burgling a house should not be subject to this," it argues. As that is why many home-owners keep dogs, the bill may prove too intrusive for some.

A separate concern is that vexatious neighbours may take advantage of dog Asbos to have their neighbour's dog tagged or confined should they trample on the display of Chrysler Imperials. Before long we may need to create a new Office of Dogs Regulator, or Ofbark. But wouldn't better fences, or shorter leads, be cheaper?