That'll be MUCH safer then!!

[AtW]

But not before financially penalising a great many people who do not have "dangerous dogs".

All dogs are dangerous to my squirrels

Apart from Miss Hilton's...

[DaveB]

What will be interesteing to see is how the insurance companies measure the risk and hence the cost of the policies.

Contrary to what many think it is not the breeds that are percieved to be "aggresive" - Rottweilers, Dobermans, Bull Terriers etc - that are the source of most dog bites, it's actually the smaller breeds like Jack Russels, Yorkshire Terriers and even Chiuahua's that are most likely to bite.

Given that insurers base their premiums on risk it will be interesting to see how people react when it costs more to insure a Chiuahua than a Rottweiler

[shaunbhoy]

All dogs are dangerous to my squirrels

And so they should be for it is a widely known fact that (grey) squirrels are nothing but pests!!

[AtW]

And so they should be for it is a widely known fact that (grey) squirrels are nothing but pests!!

And dogs have colour vision that stops them from attacking innocent red squirrels?

[shaunbhoy]

And dogs have colour vision that stops them from attacking innocent red squirrels?

Fat chance. Those dastardly grey squirrels have all but wiped out the poor old reds due to their gargantuan north american gluttony!!!

[AtW]

grey squirrels have all but wiped out the poor old reds

Clearly superior species - an inspiration to other immigrants shirly?

[DaveB]

Taken from existing Dangerous Dogs legislation

(c) any dog of any type designated for the purposes of this section by an order of the Secretary of State, being a type appearing to him to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose..

Looks to me like the scenario where an unruly dog is being aggressive in a public place is already covered. What is lacking is the will to follow through with existing powers. IMHO that is where these new proposals will also falter. But not before financially penalising a great many people who do not have "dangerous dogs".

That paragraph doesn't mean what you think it means. It is the means by which additional breeds may be added to the list of banned breeds through the issuing of an order by the Secretary of State.

Only the Pitbull Terrier and the Japanese Tosa were included in the original legislation. Since then the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Braziliero have been added to the list using the powers given to the Secretary of State in section 1(1)(c) of the act by making specific orders with regard to those breeds.

It is not a catch all term to mean any dog that may or may not have been bred to be aggressive or for fighting.

As far as the cost is concerned I am somewhat less than sympathetic. Owning a dog is a responsability and insuring your dog is part of that. If you cannot afford to properly keep and care for a dog then you shouldnt have one to begin with.

[original PM]

Ho Hum,

It will tax the law abiding citizens and the chavs with the chavvy dogs will not pay

it will become a pita for the police to police

just another tax

oh and it will probably mean a lot more strays as dogs which are tolerated are kicked out onto the streets.