A coalition of the UK’s leading animal welfare and veterinary groups has welcomed an independent academic report which challenges the premise underpinning current dog control legislation, that certain breeds are inherently dangerous.
The report, entitled ‘Investigation of measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership amongst dog owners with dog control issues in the UK’ was compiled by Middlesex University, following a Government commission in November 2018.
The report said: “Participants almost unanimously cast doubt on the idea that breed was a cause of dog attacks noting either that dogs are not inherently dangerous if properly socialised and engaged with using appropriate behaviours, or that all dogs could be dangerous if placed in the wrong situations and handled inappropriately.”
The report also found data around dog bite incidents to be lacking and record-keeping to be inconsistent across the country.
The coalition welcoming the findings includes Battersea, Blue Cross, British Veterinary Association, Dogs Trust, RSPCA and The Kennel Club. The group claims that the report casts significant doubt on the evidence that the UK Government has been using to justify Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act, which labels certain types of dogs as inherently aggressive and dangerous to public safety.
Dr Samantha Gaines, secretariat of the group and RSPCA dog welfare expert, said: “We welcome this independent research, which casts even more serious doubt on the belief that certain breeds of dog are inherently dangerous, instead concluding that human behaviour is a key factor in dog bites and attacks.
“Given these findings, it is now imperative that the Government uses them to inform an evidence-based, ‘deed not breed’ approach to future dog control strategy and moves away from the current breed-specific approach. This goes hand in hand with encouraging responsible dog ownership and owner education.”
The report, entitled ‘Investigation of measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership amongst dog owners with dog control issues in the UK’ was compiled by Middlesex University, following a Government commission in November 2018.
The report said: “Participants almost unanimously cast doubt on the idea that breed was a cause of dog attacks noting either that dogs are not inherently dangerous if properly socialised and engaged with using appropriate behaviours, or that all dogs could be dangerous if placed in the wrong situations and handled inappropriately.”
The report also found data around dog bite incidents to be lacking and record-keeping to be inconsistent across the country.
The coalition welcoming the findings includes Battersea, Blue Cross, British Veterinary Association, Dogs Trust, RSPCA and The Kennel Club. The group claims that the report casts significant doubt on the evidence that the UK Government has been using to justify Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act, which labels certain types of dogs as inherently aggressive and dangerous to public safety.
Dr Samantha Gaines, secretariat of the group and RSPCA dog welfare expert, said: “We welcome this independent research, which casts even more serious doubt on the belief that certain breeds of dog are inherently dangerous, instead concluding that human behaviour is a key factor in dog bites and attacks.
“Given these findings, it is now imperative that the Government uses them to inform an evidence-based, ‘deed not breed’ approach to future dog control strategy and moves away from the current breed-specific approach. This goes hand in hand with encouraging responsible dog ownership and owner education.”
