Amnesty needed for dangerous dogs say Liberal Democrats (Stephen Clarke)

Amnesty needed for dangerous dogs say Liberal Democrats

December 1, 2009 2:00 PM
Originally published by Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats in Tower Hamlets have called for an amnesty that will allow local people to hand in dogs that are out of control or too big to the Council's dog warden. An amnesty scheme in Merseyside saw 80 dangerous dogs removed from neighbourhoods.

The call from Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats comes after the tragic death of four year old John-Paul Massey in Liverpool who was killed by his uncle's dog, the fifth child to be killed by a family dog since 2006.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Tower Hamlets Council, Cllr Stephanie Eaton said: "There is concern in Tower Hamlets about the potential for dogs who are badly behaved and trained to fight attacking young children in their homes. We are calling for the Council and other social landlords and property owners to agree to allow owners of dogs who have become too big, too aggressive and too dangerous to hand them in without penalty. Dangerous dogs should not be in homes where there are small children."

The amnesty would allow people who are in breach of tenancy and leaseholder rules that forbid the keeping of animals to hand the dogs in without fear of prosecution within a certain time period. Outside of this time period normal penalties for a breach of tenancy or leaseholder agreements would apply. The amnesty would allow the dogs to be released to a responsible agency for rehousing, rather than being left in homes where they may pose a danger or be released onto the streets.

A letter from Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephanie Eaton has been sent to Councillor Bill Turner who is leading a scrutiny review of dangerous dogs in Tower Hamlets.