Scotland is 'ahead of the game' over dangerous dog laws

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 21:50

PLANS to force owners of dangerous dogs in England and Wales to muzzle or neuter their pets should not be adopted in Scotland, the MSP behind a dangerous dogs bill has said.

Labour wants owners south of the Border to insure against their pets attacking someone, in an effort to make them more responsible.

However, Christine Grahame, who has received substantial support for her bill in the Scottish Parliament, said she would not seek to include the proposals in her Control of Dogs Bill.

She said: "It makes no difference to Scotland – we are way ahead of the game. It is all politics for Labour, because they have an election coming up – nothing will happen in that time. My Control of Dogs Bill should, with a good wind, be law by June."

"What it intends to do is intervene before a dog becomes dangerous. Importantly, it extends to dogs out of control in public and private places. My bill amends the Dangerous Dogs Act because it only applies to dogs in public and private places where they are not permitted to be – mine is wherever the dog is."

"Many attacks have taken place where dogs have been in the home of their owner, where maybe a grandchild has been visiting – the Dangerous Dogs Act didn't apply to that."

"They have been 13 years in government and they have done nothing, and in the dying months, looking for popular policies they grab at something Scotland is doing – we are well down the road to legislation."

She added: "Even if we were in a position to have compulsory insurance, I would not be in favour of it. I am not in favour of compulsory microchipping because the people who don't insure or microchip won't do it anyway, even if it is compulsory.

"Why burden decent owners who look after their animal and make sure they are well behaved?"