The RSPCA is urging members of the public to contact their MPs to change dog control legislation, which is says persecutes dogs based on their physical appearance.

Dragging its heals

According to the charity nine out of 10 people agree that the current law doesn’t protect the public effectively, but the government continues to “drag its heels” over promises to reform the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Two public consultations on dangerous dogs have been carried out since March 2010, one of which revealed that more 70% of people believe that breed specific legislation should be repealed, while 88% said they didn’t think the current law was working.

Despite this there have been no changes made to the Dangerous Dogs Act since 1997 and, according to the RSPCA, thousands of dogs are still being abandoned and abused by irresponsible owners every year.

People power

Last week (8 October) RSPCA government relations manager, Claire Robinson, appeared on BBC’s One Show where she spoke about the failures of current legislation.

“The RSPCA is no stranger to campaigns raising the injustice of the Dangerous Dogs Act – a law which acts as judge, jury and, all too often, executioner of dogs that are guilty of nothing more than matching a list of physical measurements,” she said.

“If members of the public show enough strength of feeling by contacting their MPs, there is still a chance that people power could see a change in the law for the better. It could not only help protect the general population, but improve animal welfare as well.”