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Court Crackdown on Dangerous Dogs

05/15/2012 07:08:00

Owners of dangerously out of control dogs that harm others in a public place will be jailed for up to 18 months under new guidelines for judges.

More prison sentences will be issued to offenders after the crackdown on dangerous dogs takes effect in August, with more community orders and fewer cases being discharged from August.

The Sentencing Council also wants courts to ban irresponsible owners who put the public at risk from keeping dogs, order genuinely dangerous dogs to be put down and arrange compensation for victims.

Anyone using an animal as a weapon to attack someone would still be sentenced for assault, but the new guidelines cover both dogs which were dangerously out of control and the possession of banned dogs.

Anne Arnold, of the Sentencing Council, said: "This new sentencing guideline encourages courts to use their full powers when dealing with offenders so that they are jailed where appropriate.

"It also gives guidance to courts on making the best use of their powers so that people can be banned from keeping dogs, genuinely dangerous dogs can be put down and compensation can be paid to victims."

Under the tougher guidelines, anyone in charge of a dangerously out of control dog would face up to 18 months in jail, with the sentence rising to the legal maximum of two years in exceptional cases.

Serious injuries during a sustained attack, injuries to children, failing to respond to previous warnings or deliberate goading of the dog by its owner will all be seen as an aggravating factor by judges.

But the owner could walk free from court if the injuries caused were only minor, attempts had been made to regain control of the dog and safety steps had been taken by the owner.

The council also issued guidelines for judges sentencing those involved in the possession of prohibited dogs, including the pitbull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.

Peter Chapman, chairman of the Magistrates' Association sentencing committee, said: "For the first time, magistrates will have all they need in one document to help them sentence the offender, disqualify him from future dog ownership if appropriate, order compensation to the victim and order destruction of the dog if necessary."

The Dogs Trust said the changes would encourage courts to focus on "the key factors of culpability of the owner and the amount of harm to the victim".

But Steve Goody, director of external affairs at animal welfare charity Blue Cross , warned tougher sentencing alone was not enough to prevent dog attacks.

"We believe the introduction of useful, practical measures could be used specifically to target irresponsible dog owners before an attack happens," he said.

Courtesy of Sky News

Fun Family Dog Show @ The Donkey Sanctuary

05/05/2012 08:23:00

The Donkey Sanctuary

Sidmouth, East Devon. EX10 0NU

WildDogz will be in attendance to offer advice on puppy & dog training, problem behaviour, discounted microchipping & a range of canine essentials.

FUN FAMILY DOG SHOW & BBQ

SUNDAY 24TH JUNE

First class 11:30am•

10 Novelty Classes with great prizes!•

BBQ and Refreshments

•Face Painting

•Bouncy Castle

• Free Prize Draw

All funds raised will go towards helping donkeys both in the UK and worldwide.

The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 0NU.

For further information call us: 01395 573156

Email us: visitus@thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk

The Donkey Sanctuary (registered charity number 264818)

Latest legal debate on dangerous dogs & microchipping

04/24/2012 09:04:00

WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
TACKLING IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP
Date: 23 April 2012
____________________________________________________________
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food (James Paice)
I am pleased to announce a package of measures to tackle irresponsible dog ownership. I apologise to the House that this announcement is four weeks later than intended.

In the past few years there has been a sharp rise in the problems associated with irresponsible dog ownership. The number of adults sentenced for offences relating to dangerous dogs has increased by 39 per cent from 855 in 2009 to 1,192 in 2010. The number of dog-related admissions to hospital has also risen significantly, from 2,915 in 1997 to 6,118 in 2010. In 2009 alone, dog attacks cost the NHS £3.3 million in treating the most serious cases where victims had to be admitted for treatment. Every year there are numerous reported attacks on Royal Mail, Parcelforce and British Telecom staff. Most of these attacks take place on private property. Between 2007 and 2010, five people were killed following a dog attack in the home; four of the victims were children under the age of four years.

Concerns have also been raised with Defra about dog attacks on health visitors and social workers during home visits.

Irresponsible dog ownership is a complex problem and there is no single solution. The primary responsibility for ensuring that dogs are kept under proper control must rest with individual owners who should only acquire a dog if they are prepared to look after it properly and make sure that it does not become a nuisance or a danger to others.

Given growing concern about the number of dog attacks, the previous Government consulted the public in 2010 to find out whether the law needed to be changed and, if so, what changes might help. The consultation found that most people thought that powers contained in the existing dangerous dogs legislation were inadequate. The police and the dog welfare charities said that the criminal law in relation to dogs being dangerously out of control should be extended to cover private property (the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 only applies on public land or private land where the dog is trespassing) and there was also widespread support for compulsory microchipping.

The responses showed that there was no support for adding other breeds or types to the list of prohibited dogs. However the police specifically made the point that removing the ban on the four specific prohibited types, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro, would significantly increase the risk of dog attacks because these four prohibited types were originally specifically bred for fighting, are renowned for their aggressive behaviour and are known to be disproportionately dangerous when in the hands of an irresponsible individual or when dangerously out of control.

Having considered the replies to the consultation and further consulted the police, local authorities and other organisations who are in the frontline in dealing with irresponsible dog ownership, Government has decided that it would be appropriate to extend existing dangerous dogs law in England to cover all private property. Extending the current law would make it enforceable in homes, private gardens and private land where people and dogs are entitled to be, better protecting the thousands of service workers such as medical staff and postmen whose jobs take them onto private property. However, the proposed extension to the criminal law will not extend to protect trespassers who have entered the private property with unlawful intentions.

In addition, to ensure the welfare of dogs that have become the subject of court proceedings and to ease the costs to the police service, Government has also decided that it should no longer be necessary for the police to seize and kennel dogs pending the outcome of court proceedings where the police do not consider the dog presents a risk to the public. The requirement to seize the dog will not be waived unless the police are satisfied that it is in the care of a responsible owner.

In addition interim conditions can be placed on the owner e.g. requiring the dog to be muzzled and on lead when in public (this would apply in England).

We consider that allowing dogs to be exempted from seizure in these circumstances strikes the right balance between protecting the public from dangerous dogs and ensuring that safe and properly looked after dogs are not unnecessarily removed from their homes. We propose to raise the fee of £24 (first set in 1991) payable by the owner for placing prohibited dogs on the Index of Exempted Dogs to better reflect the costs involved in administering these dogs for their lifetime and thereby reduce the burden on the taxpayer (this would apply throughout Great Britain). Further funding is also being given to the Association of Chief Police Officers to support the training that they provide for Dog Legislation Officers in order to ensure that there is a hub of dog law expertise in every police force.

It is also our intention to introduce regulations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 on microchipping to promote animal welfare by making it easier for local authorities and rescue centres to quickly re-unite stray dogs with their owners. It would also help the police and local authorities to enforce dog and animal welfare legislation. Our preferred approach is to make breeders responsible for microchipping the puppy before sale.

Therefore a further consultation is being held to give the public an opportunity to give their views on these proposed legislative changes. In relation to microchipping the options are: (i) requiring all dogs to be microchipped on transfer of ownership, (ii) requiring all dogs to be microchipped from a certain date, (iii) implementing a phased-in process, such as starting with compulsory microchipping on transfer of ownership and after five years moving to
mandatory microchipping of all dogs, or (iv) making breeders responsible for microchipping newly-born dogs before (first) sale. This is the responsibility of the breeder or seller and not the purchaser. The preferred option is the fourth one.

We consider that education also has a significant role to play in reducing the problems associated with irresponsible dog ownership. Government is providing funding of £50,000 to be shared between the RSPCA, Battersea Cats and Dogs Home and the Dogs Trust to foster innovative local community projects to encourage responsible dog ownership in areas where there are high instances of dog-related problems. The funding is being provided on the basis that the interventions will be carefully evaluated and the learning disseminated to help others engaged in working with local communities.

In drawing up these measures, Defra has worked with the Home Office to ensure the new anti-social behaviour measures they are preparing reflect the needs of enforcement agencies and enhance their ability to prevent irresponsible dog owners presenting a risk to the general public.

Local authorities already have powers to designate areas of public space as ‘dog free zones’ whilst Social Landlords are able to lay down rules for their tenants regarding the keeping of dogs or other animals. Many local initiatives build on these powers and today’s announcement compliments them to address the small minority of dog owners who cause such distress to these whom they attack or intimidate.

What do you think?

RSPCA Cases Soar Amid 'Rising Tide Of Cruelty

04/24/2012 08:55:00

No matter how hard life is for you or how tight your budget is being squeezed by the credit crisis, there is no excuse for what is contained in the report below. If you need help, there are plenty of places out there, many free so just ask!!

The number of people convicted of cruelty and neglect to animals rose by nearly a quarter last year.

Figures from the RSPCA also show a 27% increase in prison sentences imposed by the courts.

Inspector Tony Woodley, from the charity, told Sky News: "Unfortunately what our statistics for 2011 tell us is that there has been a rising tide of animal cruelty and welfare problems across the board. That's dogs, cats. horses and farm animals."

The RSPCA has seen a big increase in the number of calls they are receiving, up 13% on last year to 1.3 million. They investigated 160,000 complaints about animal welfare.

"People are taking on animals when they shouldn't," said Mr Woodley. "There's often a change in circumstances and perhaps because of the financial situation we're getting a lot of abandoned animals. People are perhaps not putting their animals as a priority."

As a result, the RSPCA says it is now struggling to deal with the increased workload. It looks after 120,000 animals a year, but is also taking out a growing number of private convictions against individuals.

Mr Woodley explained: "We offer advice, and we offer warning notices. Warning notices can be very effective.

"It is legal advice people must follow and we find in 90% of cases people do follow it. But we do also have to take legal action. Where animals are intentionally harmed for pleasure or for cruelty, we will find those people and we will prosecute them."

Recent convictions include a man from Leyburn in North Yorkshire who set two dogs upon a snared fox forcing it to fight for its life.

The whole thing was filmed on a mobile phone and he was jailed for 16 weeks by Northallerton Magistrates Court.

There has been a 22% rise in convictions involving dogs. The number of successful cases involving horses has risen from 386 to 428.

The RSPCA says it currently has over 500 horses in its care and it is becoming a huge drain on resources. The animals are often abandoned because people can't afford the vets' bills.

Chief executive Gavin Grant said: "The RSPCA faces a crisis that is stretching us to breaking point. We need the courts and councils, police and people who care to join us in standing up and getting justice for Britain's abused animals."

Farm animals are also subject to increased cruelty, according to the statistics. Last week two abbatoir workers pleaded guilty to welfare offences after their cruelty was exposed in a Sky News investigation .

There have also been some amazing stories of survival including a lurcher-type dog which survived against all the odds after two men broke her back and stabbed her with a potato peeler before dumping her and leaving her to die.

It is a worrying trend that this nation of animal lovers appears to be causing them so much distress.

Credits - Sky News

Countrywide Pet Health & Wellbeing Event

04/03/2012 20:57:00

From Friday 13th April to Sunday 15th April, we shall be attending the Countrywide Pet Health & Wellbeing Weekend at the Heathpark, Honiton store as the guest Canine behaviour practitioner and professional trainer.

Additionally, we shall be offering discounted microchipping on these days although it would be advisable to contact us to confirm a time slot in advance.

We shall be in attendance from 10:00 daily through until 16:00 and will be offering advice on puppy and dog training essentials whilst giving you an opportunity to discuss any behavioural issues you may have with your beloved dog(s).

Countrywide also have a 10% discount on all pet products on these 3-days.

Pop in and see us, we can discuss all things dog and also share with you our exciting plans for the future.

Friday 13th, Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th April, make a date in your diary now and see you there!!

Trevor

Easter Awareness

04/02/2012 21:29:00

Chocs Away! Awareness Drive

Shocking survey reveals dangers to man’s best friend
this Easter.

Dogs Trust launches its “Chocs Away” awareness drive.

A shocking new survey (March 2012 with over 1,115 respondents) from Dogs Trust has revealed that over 57% of pet dogs have eaten chocolate intended for humans and over 1 in 10 have become ill from it. Of these, 8% have died due to the effects and nearly a quarter have required urgent veterinary treatment.

To prevent the number of dogs that end up visiting the vet with chocolate poisoning, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is launching a new “Chocs Away!” awareness drive to highlight the tragic consequences of feeding your dog human chocolate this Easter.

Sadly many dog owners are simply unaware of the dangers. Over 39% of dogs who ate human chocolate were given the treat by their owners and 61% found it themselves after it was left in easy to find places in the home.

Dogs Trust Veterinary Director, Paula Boyden, comments:

“Apart from the risks of obesity and the obvious dangers of eating the foil wrapping, the biggest risk of eating human chocolate is poisoning, resulting in an emergency dash to the vet and sadly even death.

Chocolate contains theobromine, which, although tolerated by humans, is extremely toxic to man’s best friend. The darker the chocolate, the greater the amount of theobromine. Toxic doses vary according to the size of dog and cocoa solid content of the chocolate. As a rough guide, Dogs Trust estimates that 50g of plain chocolate could be enough to kill a small dog, such as a Yorkshire Terrier*, while just 400g could be enough to kill an average size dog.”

So, if you are partial to Easter Eggs and want to keep your dog safe, follow these simple rules:

- Keep your “Chocs Away” – this means hidden out of sight and unavailable to your dog.

- NEVER feed your dog chocolate intended for humans.

- If your egg is missing and you suspect the dog is the culprit, contact your vet straight away.

- Look out for any of the following symptoms; vomiting containing blood, a sore tummy, excessive thirst, excitability, drooling, rapid heart rate. and in severe cases, epileptic-type fits.

- If your dog is displaying any of these signs then take him immediately to your vet.

- There is no antidote for theobromine poisoning with treatment being symptomatic. Therefore the sooner treatment is implemented, the greater the chance of recovery.

- If you want to treat your dog this Easter stick to natural doggy snacks that are kinder to your canine.

*fatal doses of theobromine quoted in the range 90 – 250mg per kg of body weight, from “The Handbook of Poisoning in Cats and Dogs” by Alexander Campbell and Michael Chapman (Blackwell Science). For the average Yorkshire Terrier we have estimated a body weight of 2.5kg and for an average dog we have estimated a body weight of 25kg.

Cases of death by an Easter egg alone are relatively unlikely, most reported cases of death by theobromine are from dogs eating cocoa powder and cocoa mulch in the garden, so please be vigilant if your dog is also exposed to these products.

National Pet Month

04/02/2012 12:27:00

National Pet Month 2012

National Pet Month is a registered charity, unique in bringing together animal welfare charities, professional bodies, pet businesses, schools, youth groups and pet lovers, with the common goal of improving the welfare of pets.

National Pet Month 2012 runs from
7th April to 7th May 2012

www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk

From 7th April to 7th May 2012 you are invited to be a part of National Pet Month. Thousands of people up and down the UK will be celebrating life with their pets, spreading the word on responsible pet ownership or raising money for their favourite charity in fun-filled events.

National Pet Month Aims are to:
- promote responsible pet ownership
- make people aware of the benefits of pets for people and people for pets
- increase public awareness of services available from professionals who work with animals
- raise awareness of the role, value and contribution to society of working companion animals

Each year the responsible pet ownership message is conveyed by running the events under a central theme. The 2012 theme is ‘Your pets and you: a winning team’.

The range of events is huge and can include dog and cat shows, dogathons, bazaars, parades, sponsored walks, raffles, dances, veterinary practice open days and roadshows.

Whatever you decide to do, by being a part of National Pet Month you can make things better for the nation’s pets and you can help keep National Pet Month running whilst having some fun too!

To find out more about National Pet Month visit www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk

To find out how we can help you be a more responsible dog owner, click through to the main website.

Enjoy your pets, responsibly!!

WildDogz ~ The Future

03/25/2012 20:50:00

After a successful 2011/12 year, WildDogz are clearly becoming a serious provider of Canine Education across Exeter, East & Mid Devon, South Somerset & West Dorset with year on year business up by more than 210%.

To continue this growth and continue to offer an even larger range of people the benefit of WildDogz, premier & professional training services, we have just submitted planning application for the first of 2 intended training centres in East Devon bringing an unrivalled range of innovative services and facilities.

Keep posted for further details including a running update on the development of "Site 1" so you can be one of the first to benefit from premier puppy or dog training and behaviour correction.

See our main website for what our clients say about us:

www.wilddogz.co.uk/happy-tails.html

see you soon!!

Burns Product Recall

03/03/2012 08:39:00

Burns Pet Nutrition have today issued a product recall on one of its dog food products - see below for more details and pass this blog on to anyone you know who may be using Burns Pet Foods:

PRODUCT RECALL

Product: Burns Ocean Bites 200g

Batch: Best Before OCT2012

As a precautionary measure we are recalling the above batch of product which has been identified as having been contaminated by a small insect.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Please return Ocean Bites with a Best Before Date OCT2012
to your supplier for a refund or replacement.

How much do we really love dogs?

03/02/2012 09:22:00

Is a dog really mans best friend, the following report from the Press Association suggests otherwise based on a recent survey by pet food manufacturer Cesar:

The UK is Europe's least accommodating country towards small dogs, according to new research.

More than half (52%) of the 7.3 million dog owners in the UK agreed that, when compared with our European neighbours, Britain falls behind in the dog-friendly stakes.

One in three (32%) French and 40% of Belgians agree.

The study of more than 3,000 dog owners across the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and Belgium was carried out to explore European attitudes towards dogs, with findings revealing that perceived levels of dog-friendliness within retail and hospitality are considerably lower in the UK than in any other country.

Findings show that only 6% of British retailers open their doors to small dogs, when there are 5.4 million dog owners in the UK who state they would go to more cafes, shops and other retailers if they felt their dogs were welcome.

The traditional British pub has always been a home from home for many dog owners and a welcome pit-stop while out walking. However, almost three quarters of dog owners (73%) state they do not feel welcome in pubs with their dogs, meaning pets are left in cars, outside or at home alone.

The sentiment extends to cafe culture, as only 7% of dog owners agree they feel welcome to spend time relaxing with their dog in coffee shops - compared with a quarter (26%) of dog owners in Germany.

The research was carried out by Cesar, which has launched the Paws in Places campaign to encourage dog owners to spend more quality time with their dogs and to raise awareness of the issue of closed door policies towards small dogs.

Dog lover and model Jodie Kidd said: "We love our dogs in the UK and consider them part of the family. I've got three dogs and I would love to be able to spend more time with them. Unfortunately, like many other dog owners, I don't always feel welcome with my dogs in a number of establishments."

The top five spaces and places that UK dog owners believe they should be allowed to spend more time with their dogs are public transport (61%), bars and pubs (52%), hotels (46%), cafes (43%) and small shops (42%) respectively.