Readers will be pleased to hear that the little schnauzer, which survived an attack by an American bulldog (see article of 3rd February), has now fully recovered. Following a police investigation, the owner has signed a voluntary agreement for his dog to be muzzled when in public. This, it seems, is the least the owner is prepared to do as he has offered no apology; nor has he offered to repay the £400 vet's bill.
Settlement via the small claims court is an option now being considered by the schnauzer's owner.
Additional powers were granted to the police and local authorities in October 2014 under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, designed to give them greater flexibility when dealing with irresponsible dog owners and incidents involving dogs. These powers include acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs), community protection notices (CPNs) and public spaces protection orders (PSPOs).
All are designed to give greater flexibility in tackling irresponsible dog owners and incidents involving dogs. The Act also amended Part 7 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to extend the offence of a dog being “dangerously out of control” to all places, including private property where the dog has the right to be and to make explicit that an attack on an assistance dog is an aggravated (more serious) offence.
