DANGEROUS DOGS

That this House is alarmed at the number of incidents involving dogs dangerously out of control; urges local authorities to make full use of existing powers, including anti-social behaviour orders and tenancy conditions, to deter irresponsible owners from using their dogs to intimidate the public; calls on the Government to issue new guidelines on dealing with dangerous dogs, to set a minimum age for dog ownership and to consider the proposals from the Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group for a new Control of Dogs Act with powers to issue control orders backed by powers for dangerous dogs to be destroyed, controlled, muzzled or re-homed, for owners to be disqualified from having charge of a dog on pain of compensation, fines or imprisonment for a procedure for owners to appeal, and for a database to be established of dogs and owners found in breach of the act; but regards as impractical any proposal to take action against specific breeds of dogs or to re-introduce licences.