Dog Asbos to keep pets and their owners on tight leash

Published on Wednesday 10 February 2010 21:55

A BILL which would introduce dog Asbos to Scotland was backed unanimously by MSPs yesterday as it passed its first hurdle in parliament.

The new bill will replace the current Dangerous Dogs Act which MSPs agreed is flawed because it criminalises the breed and not the individual dog or owner.

It was put forward by Nationalist MSP Christine Grahame who is hoping to change the law on the control of dogs to try to curb irresponsible owners.

The dog-control notices, dubbed "dog Asbos", would allow councils to impose restrictions on owners who do not control their pets. Action would also be taken against owners if their pet is dangerously out of control in any place, including their home.

Ms Grahame told MSPs: "Currently if a child is attacked in the dog's home, where it is permitted to be, the owner cannot be held legally responsible unless the dog is of a banned breed. Clearly this is wrong."

Ms Grahame told MSPs her proposals are not intended to penalise responsible dog owners but said there is a "growing problem" with irresponsible owners, adding that about 600 dog attacks are now reported every year which is more than double the figure from ten years ago.

She received support for her bill from the Scottish Government and MSPs from around the chamber.

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "There is a gap in the law that I think we recognise has to be addressed. Currently, a dog owner is only liable if their dog is dangerously out of control in a public place.

"We think it is right dog owners are held accountable for their dogs both in public and private, and we welcome this change."

He went on: "We believe the creation of a dog-control notice regime will help encourage dog owners to take responsibility for the actions of their dogs."

He said there is "poverty of information" about the number of dangerous dogs in Scotland but said he did not expect "thousands and thousands" of orders.

Tory MSP David McLetchie added that particular breeds may have been banned or may have even died out in this country but there are still many crossbred dogs bred and trained to exhibit aggressive behaviour which will cause alarm to the public and a threat to public safety.

"For those who take a perverse delight in intimidating their neighbours or engaging in gang conflict or strutting their stuff in the hood, a powerful dog is both a fashion accessory and a weapon," he said. "In many cases it is the dog owners who are a good deal more dangerous than the dogs."

Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Pringle MSP said the bill will help modernise laws dating to 1871.

Meanwhile, Duncan McNeil, the convener of the local government committee which supports the bill, told MSPs: "A dog becomes dangerous, it is not born that way. The bill is about prevention and seeking to influence the behaviour of the dog owner in order to improve the behaviour of the dog."