Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce report
Defra commissioned research from Middlesex University (The Middlesex Report), to investigate measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible dog ownership, which was published in 2021.
The Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce was established in 2022, to consider these findings and make recommendations on measures to encourage responsible dog ownership. The taskforce includes representation from the police, local authorities and animal welfare organisations. The taskforce is comprised of a steering group and four subgroups, which focus on four key areas: enforcement, data, education and communications, and training (for both dogs and their owners).
The whole thing is worth reading for anyone who has trouble falling asleep. Alternatively any reader could zip down to the official conclusion before reaching their own unofficial conclusion.
Conclusions
The taskforce concluded that dog attacks and dog control issues should be considered as complex and multifactorial issues, affecting different communities across the country in different ways. There is no single policy solution that could be seen as a ‘silver bullet’. As such, a range of interventions, both legislative and non-legislative, is required, from a range of parties working in partnership at national, regional and community levels.
The taskforce hope that Ministers will consider these recommendations in detail and take action to progress them. Meaningful change will require collaboration. It is clear that everybody has a role to play, including government, police forces, local authorities, dog owners, animal welfare organisations, the wider public, healthcare providers and safeguarding professionals to name but a few. It is hoped that the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce can continue to play a role in coordinating these groups to ensure significant improvements in responsible dog ownership over time.
The taskforce concluded that dog attacks and dog control issues should be considered as complex and multifactorial issues, affecting different communities across the country in different ways. There is no single policy solution that could be seen as a ‘silver bullet’. As such, a range of interventions, both legislative and non-legislative, is required, from a range of parties working in partnership at national, regional and community levels.
The taskforce hope that Ministers will consider these recommendations in detail and take action to progress them. Meaningful change will require collaboration. It is clear that everybody has a role to play, including government, police forces, local authorities, dog owners, animal welfare organisations, the wider public, healthcare providers and safeguarding professionals to name but a few. It is hoped that the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce can continue to play a role in coordinating these groups to ensure significant improvements in responsible dog ownership over time.
6 comments:
"dog attacks and dog control issues should be considered as complex and multifactorial issues" About twenty years ago I was locking up my bike when an aggressive dog came at me, its owner hauling on its lead but apparently too weak to stop it. I had my D-lock in my hand; a heavy thing a D-lock. I shook it and said "If that bloody animal comes any closer I'll kill it".
The owner suddenly gained strength and dragged it away muttering "You're fuckin' mad, you are."
Neither complex nor multifactorial: a big, strong male with a cudgel can intimidate a snivelling coward with an aggressive dog.
The problem is when the victim is a child or an invalid or an old woman, and so on. In a wiser country old women would carry a pistol and deal with the dog and the owner with just two shots.
I have had dogs all my life and have never had one that is aggressive towards people. Any that showed aggression were trained out of it.It should be quite clear that anyone owning Pit Bull, Cane Corso or other large aggressive animals will be held personally responsible for any attacks on any other person or animal and will result in imprisonment for the owner and destruction of the dog.
dearieme - interesting story but you are right, the problem is attacks on people who for physical reasons can't fight back. It's a pity we aren't a wiser country, the issue would be dealt with.
John - yes, a strong dose of personal responsibility with severe or very severe consequences would surely make a difference.
The "Responsible Dog Ownership Task Force".
Srsly? Psychiatric adviser Dr. Heinz Kiosk, no doubt.
I wonder how many people work for the "Responsible Dog Ownership Task Force"? All, of course, with offices, laptops, inflation-proof pensions, etc, and many with company cars (Electric, natch).
We're doomed, aren't we.
Put the owner and the dog in a cage. Let them stay there until one is dead. If that is not the owner then shoot them for cruelty to animals
Peter - it does sound like a proposal from Dr. Heinz Kiosk, possibly the result of a conversation with Sir Herbert Trance. It seems likely that the Responsible Dog Ownership Task Force will grow together with their offices and laptops.
Yes we are doomed.
djc - good idea, they could share their food too, or attempt to.
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