Dangerous dogs latest: move to tighten controls
Dog attacks 9 year old
There’s a call for action to tackle the issue of dangerous dogs in Norwich.
It follows a number of attacks in the city, including a 10 year boy who was taken to hospital with serious injuries and a 9 year old, who was knocked to the ground and attacked by a bull terrier.
The Liberal Democrats in Norwich are calling for action to be taken on dangerous dogs. The party wants Dog Control Orders brought in which would mean dogs would have to be kept on leads in areas where there is known problem.
Cllr James Wright (Lib Dem, Eaton) said: ”In recent weeks we have seen a number of vicious dog attacks in Norwich, including on a 10-year-old-child. There is a need for proportionate and preventative action to tackle this threat. The Council has the power to introduce an order that would require dogs to be kept on leads in areas where there are established problems. This is a small but necessary step to ensure that the public and other dogs are protected [...] I hope that these orders will make irresponsible owners change their ways while not impacting too greatly on responsible owners.”
Research carried out by the Liberal Democrats shows in the NHS Norfolk area, there were 85 cases in 2010/11 in which serious injuries requiring a hospital stay were sustained as a result of being injured by a dog.
Catriona Milne, who’s 9 year old son was attacked by a bull terrier just over a week ago, while walking near the Queen’s Road Sainsburys, said: ”I can’t see how it would be enforced. The nature of these attacks is that they are completely random, so singling out certain areas of Norwich which have an established problem won’t necessarily help.” In her son’s case, the dog was on a lead, but was being walked by a 7 year old, who was unable to stop the dog once it attacked. He needed treatment in A&E and was left shaken by the incident.
In April, a petition was set up which has so far been signed by over 300 people in the West Pottergate area, calling for steps to be taken to tackle aggressive dogs. A Home Office consultation on how to tackle anti-social behaviour, including dangerous dogs is also underway.
Green councillors want a clearer protocol for prevention and continuous monitoring of dogs, by working with the RSPCA to identify a range of ways in which the council can tackle the issue, including making it more difficult for people to keep pets as status symbols. Cllr Amy Stammers (Green, Mancroft) said: “Dangerous dogs are causing problems for residents of some areas of Norwich and the council needs to take action to make the city safer.”
The Liberal Democrat group will table a motion at week’s full council meeting at City Hall, calling for dog control orders to be brought in (Tuesday 27th September 2011).
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