Simon Wright wants police to able to intervene earlier to stop dog attacks. Photo: Bill Smith.

Norwich MP Simon Wright calls for law change over dangerous dogs following rise in attacks

Tom Bristow Wednesday, February 1, 2012
6:30 AM

South Norwich MP Simon Wright met with police chiefs, politicians and the RSPCA yesterday to try and tackle the rising problem of dangerous dogs.

Dog bites reported at A&E departments across the country have gone up by 94pc in the last 10 years and reached 6,097 in the year to the end of March 2011.

At Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital there were 191 people treated for dog bites in 2011 – up from 171 in 2010 and 167 in 2009.

Mr Wright, pictured, said dogs were being used as status symbols in some areas of Norwich and being allowed to roam without a lead in an attempt to intimidate other pet owners.

“I have long been concerned about the series of incidents we have had in parts of Norwich and my concerns are supported by the continued increase in admissions to the N&N.

“There has been a number of attacks both on pets and people.”

In September the Evening News reported on a spate of dog attacks in the city. An Old Catton woman needed 47 stitches in her arm after an attack by a neighbour’s rottweiler-cross dog. And a nine-year-old boy suffered serious injuries to his right arm and underwent a two-hour operation after being attacked by a dog.

Mr Wright, who is calling for reforms to the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act which covers attacks by uncontrolled pets, said police should be allowed to intervene earlier if a dog had a history of acting dangerously.

Following complaints by constituents about dog attacks, he said better education was also needed for pet-owners on how to act responsibly to halt the rise.

“It is not so much dangerous dogs as irresponsible ownership.

“A dog of any breed is potentially dangerous in the wrong hands.

“We need reform of the law. I am confident we will see solid proposals made before too long.”

In the NHS Norfolk area, which does not include Great Yarmouth, there were 84 cases in 2009-10 of people being seriously injured by dogs and needing to stay in hospital.

Have you or your pet been the victim of a dog attack? Call reporter Tom Bristow on 01603772313 or email tom.bristow@archant.co.uk

10 comments

Ihave two Rough Collies Booby and they have been attacked 4 times.All by Staffies,including my next door neighbours dog.This both my vet and myself reported it to the police,which was passed on to the RSPCA and what did the owner get,a caution.If you are walking your dog in the park or any open space and your dog or you is attacked who do you contact?You don't know the owner or the dog so I am afraid the M.P.is hoping for a miracle.

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john kendall

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Well ‘John Kendall’ you answered my point. ‘What a load of tosh’ all it is, is politicians wanting to score brownie points, when you point out ‘you only have two dog wardens’ ‘impossible to cover every street’, and that the police have too much to do that it would be ‘impossible to police’. So if South Norwich MP Simon Wright wants to tackle this problem you would need to have more feet on the ground, and to be honest I don’t think they will allocated more resources to this problem, not with the state of the current budget. Under the Dog Control Orders (replacing dog byelaws) if there is no leash laws posted (signs or notices) then its legal to walk your dog off a lead, and as to date I’ve never seen one where I live except on children’s play areas.

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BOBBY

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
What a load of old tosh says Bobby.I am sorry Bobby but what you are saying is a load of old tosh.Local bye laws state that all dogs should be on a lead.Around these parts at least.Question is,who enforces the law? We have 2 dog wardens and it would be impossible for them to cover every street.The police have enough to cope with so whatever laws are passed they would be almost impossible to police.

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john kendall

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
a well trained dog is a joy to see, but there is nothing more pathetic than an owner calling their dog and it not taking the slightest attention , for that reason dogs should be on a lead at all times, although most owners are so arrogant that they would probably ignore it, often walk around whitlingham lane nature reserve and despite notices telling dog owners to keep dogs under control, few bother so that it has become impossible to peacfully watch wildlife, if only they realised that a mojority of people have no wish to be slobbered over by their beloved animal

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blister

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Another example of politicians wanting to legislate. Who would enforce a new law when there is no enforcement of current laws due to the streets being stripped bare of police and target based priorities. Until that is sorted out, there is no point in any new laws,.

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kiwidog

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
What a load of tosh.... Again we hear from politicians wanting to pass the problem onto the public rather than face up to their failures in dealing with the problem, a dangerous dog on a lead is still a dangerous dog and those muppets that continue to use their dog as a statusattack dog should be brought to book rather than label all dogs as vicious. I never put my dog on a lead, he is well trained, even when I go into a shop I leave him outside off a lead and he is still their when I come out, he sits at the kerb as we are about to cross the road, he is trained and well looked after and the pet owners I come across have equally well balanced dogs. With pet fouling, there are already fines in place, but this is still a problem and its still a problem, so what makes you think that by having a dog on a lead will make the problem would go away, it won’t, not until the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 if fully enforced, at the moment you phone up to report fouling or an out of control dog and the authorities are not interested unless it has seriously mauled someone and by that time its too late.......rant, rant, rant

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BOBBY

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Owners should be licenced. Dogs should be kept on leads at all times in public. Licences could be endorsable for offences like not clearing up their poo. When dogs attack humans they are normally humanely destroyed, perhaps this could be an approach we adopt for the owners too.

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Valpy Word

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Why not a light muzzle on all dogs in a public area? at the front end mainly.

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Paul Platten

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
very sensible comments from someone I would'nt normally vote for, getting really fed up with large and dangerous dogs off their lead and their owners completely unaware that not everyone wants their dogs running up and slobbering all over me, about time all dogs were kept on alead at all times

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blister

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
I applaud Simon Wright for bringing this matter up but will he get anywhere?I have two Rough [Lassie] Collies and we have been set on and the dogs attacked on four occasions.Each time it has been Bull Terriers.People say did you report it.How can you when you are in the middle of a field,trying to get a vicious dog off of your own dog.You have no way of finding out who the owner is or the dog.By the time police arrive they have gone.This has happened on four seperate locations and now my dogs just exercise in our garden,which is quite a big garden,You would think they are safe in your own garden,no they are not.My neighbour had a Staffie and it jumped the fence,got hold of one of my dogs noses and ripped the skin from his face.The neighbour stood there and just laughed.I called the vet who in turn reported it to the police and RSPCA and what happened.He was cautioned to keep his dog under control.All dogs,whatever the breed should be on a leash whether in the street or on a field.Simon is right about dogs being a status symbol but when in company with someone who is high on drugs or alcohol the effects are devastating.

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john kendall

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Norwich MP Simon Wright calls for law change over dangerous dogs following rise in attacks

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