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| Dog attacks to be punished with longer jail terms for owners | Dog attacks to be punished with longer jail terms for owners |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Tougher penalties have come into force for dog owners in England and Wales who allow their pets to attack people. | Tougher penalties have come into force for dog owners in England and Wales who allow their pets to attack people. |
| The maximum prison sentence for allowing a dog to carry out a fatal attack on a person has increased to 14 years from two years previously. | The maximum prison sentence for allowing a dog to carry out a fatal attack on a person has increased to 14 years from two years previously. |
| Allowing a dog to cause injury can now be punished by five years in prison, up from a previous maximum of two years. | Allowing a dog to cause injury can now be punished by five years in prison, up from a previous maximum of two years. |
| Animal welfare minister Lord de Mauley said it was "only right" owners should face tough punishments after attacks. | |
| "Irresponsible dog owners will not only face longer prison sentences, but will also be liable for prosecution regardless of where an attack takes place, even in their own home. | "Irresponsible dog owners will not only face longer prison sentences, but will also be liable for prosecution regardless of where an attack takes place, even in their own home. |
| "This will give protection to those who provide vital services in the community - postal workers, nurses, utility workers - as well as people visiting family and friends." | "This will give protection to those who provide vital services in the community - postal workers, nurses, utility workers - as well as people visiting family and friends." |
| Training classes | Training classes |
| For the first time, the Dangerous Dogs Act also includes a specific provision to protect assistance dogs such as guide dogs from attack. | For the first time, the Dangerous Dogs Act also includes a specific provision to protect assistance dogs such as guide dogs from attack. |
| Owners found guilty of allowing an attack on an assistance dog could be jailed for up to three years. | Owners found guilty of allowing an attack on an assistance dog could be jailed for up to three years. |
| New preventative powers will allow the police and local authorities to send owners to dog training classes and require dogs to be muzzled in public. | New preventative powers will allow the police and local authorities to send owners to dog training classes and require dogs to be muzzled in public. |
| Guide Dogs chief executive Richard Leaman said: "An attack on a guide dog can be devastating. It can rob someone with sight loss of their independence and freedom, leaving them virtually housebound. | Guide Dogs chief executive Richard Leaman said: "An attack on a guide dog can be devastating. It can rob someone with sight loss of their independence and freedom, leaving them virtually housebound. |
| "We're delighted that irresponsible owners can now be given tougher sentences if their dog attacks an assistance dog. | "We're delighted that irresponsible owners can now be given tougher sentences if their dog attacks an assistance dog. |
| "With an average of 10 guide dogs being attacked every month, we're looking to the police to fully use their new powers to protect vulnerable people from these sometimes life-changing attacks." | "With an average of 10 guide dogs being attacked every month, we're looking to the police to fully use their new powers to protect vulnerable people from these sometimes life-changing attacks." |
| Trevor Cooper, from the Dogs Trust, said he hoped the changes would encourage owners to be "more cautious", but said tougher sentences were "not the solution". He called for a greater emphasis on prevention and education | |
| "What it will do principally is to punish after the events [when] we would rather there wasn't the event," he told BBC Radio 5 live. | |
| Dee McIntosh, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home's director of communications, added: "We believe if more people understood how to care for and be around dogs, there would be far fewer tragic incidents. | |
| "Dog attacks tear apart our communities and affect how we feel about pets and specific dog breeds. | "Dog attacks tear apart our communities and affect how we feel about pets and specific dog breeds. |
| "Any dog, no matter what size or breed, can attack a child, adult or another dog. Training and caring for an animal, and being able to clearly read a dog's body language, are the only ways to help provide safety for the likely victims of attacks, especially children." | "Any dog, no matter what size or breed, can attack a child, adult or another dog. Training and caring for an animal, and being able to clearly read a dog's body language, are the only ways to help provide safety for the likely victims of attacks, especially children." |
| Pulled from pram | Pulled from pram |
| It comes after Jade Anderson, 14, died on 26 March 2013 at a house in Atherton, near Wigan, after being mauled by four dogs. | |
| In October, Beverley Concannon the owner of the four dogs was given a 16-week suspended jail term after admitting causing suffering to the four animals. | |
| Jade had been at Concannon's house visiting a teenage friend when she was fatally attacked and her family later said they were "disgusted" the dog owner had been given a suspended sentence. | |
| In another case, in May 2013, 79-year-old Clifford Clarke from Liverpool was mauled to death in his own garden by a bull mastiff cross that had escaped from its owners' care. | |
| At the trial of the dog's owners earlier this month, Liverpool Crown Court heard that Mr Clarke was attacked when he opened his back door after cooking to air the kitchen. | At the trial of the dog's owners earlier this month, Liverpool Crown Court heard that Mr Clarke was attacked when he opened his back door after cooking to air the kitchen. |
| The owners admitted allowing their dog to enter a non-public place and subsequently cause injury and are due to be sentenced in June. | |
| Have you ever been attacked by a dog? Has your dog ever attacked anybody? If you are willing to speak to the BBC you can email your experiences and views to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject title 'Dog Attack' | Have you ever been attacked by a dog? Has your dog ever attacked anybody? If you are willing to speak to the BBC you can email your experiences and views to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject title 'Dog Attack' |