Dangerous Dogs
The Council can take action against the owner of a dog which acts dangerously or aggressively if in such a way as to put a person in fear for their safety. It does not actually have to have bitten anyone for action to be taken.
There are two principle pieces of legislation which are used to deal with dangerous dogs. These are:
Dogs Act 1871
Under this Act a complaint may be made to a magistrates court that a dog is dangerous and not kept under proper control. If the magistrates find that the dog is dangerous, they may either order the dog’s owner to keep it under proper control or order it to be destroyed. A fine can be imposed for breach of either order.
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
This Act tackles the problem of dangerous dogs by:
- Prohibiting possession of named breeds except under strictly controlled conditions. Breeds currently controlled in this way are:
- Pit Bull Terriers
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogos Argentinos
- Fila Brasileiros
- Imposing sanctions on the owners of dogs and those in charge of them which are dangerously out of control in a public place
- Imposing sanctions on the owners of dogs and those in charge of them who allow them to injure persons on private land or if there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will do so.
Where a person is convicted of an offence under this Act the Court may order the destruction of the dog and impose a fine of up to £5000.
For more information contact us or visit the DEFRA website by clicking here
Environmental Health & Licensing, Stevenage Borough Council, Daneshill House, Danestrete, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 1HN
Email: envhealth@stevenage.gov.uk
Tel: 01438 242908/242916
Fax: 01438 242142