17/10/2014

New Dog Attack Laws Come Into Force On Monday

New laws laying out stricter punishments for dog owners who fail to prevent attacks are due to come into force on Monday.

Dog owners can now be made to attend training classes, to make their animal wear a muzzle and have them micro-chipped. They will also face fines of up to £20,000 for failure to prevent an attack.

It follows another change to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which sees owners facing prison terms of up to 14 years for a fatal dog attack, five years for an injury and three years for an attack on an assistance dog.

In 2013 there was a 6% increase in the number of people requiring hospital treatment following a dog attack.

(MH/CD)

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