Owners must seek legal help to understand dangerous dog ruling

Owners of canines classified as 'dangerous dogs' should seek legal help if they are confused by new sentencing guidelines.

Judges have published the first proposed sentencing overview for people convicted for dangerous dog offences in England and Wales - 20 years after the Dangerous Dogs Act became law in the UK.

In 2010 1,700 people were prosecuted over canine offences, causing safety and legal experts to put pressure on the government to enforce consistent and proportionate sentencing.

Over the last few years, the number of people sentenced for dangerous dog offences has risen, from 855 in 2009 to 1,192 in 2010.

Persons now convicted under the Dangerous Dog Act could receive a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

The Sentencing Council has also announced that it will be proposing a starting point of a community order for people who allow a dog to cause injury while it is out of control, but claims that there should be a wide degree of discretion.

In the UK, it is illegal for a person to own, breed from, sell, abandon or give away a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Braziliero.

Published by Tessa Jones