12:22pm Wednesday 10th March 2010
GOVERNMENT plans forcing dog owners to microchip their pets and take out insurance, as part of a proposed crackdown on the country’s dangerous canines has received a mixed response from a local animal group.
The government have launched proposals to amend the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, which requires that all new dog owners fit their pets with microchips and that canine insurance is made compulsory.
Neil Martin, manager of the Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Edenfield said: “I absolutely do support the plans.
"However, I do not think they are going to work.
“It would be an expensive operation and the only people that would co-operate would be those that don’t need to.
“The ones that the government are worried about would just ignore it.”
The act banned ownership of four types of dogs, including the pit bull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the dogo Argentino and the fila Brasileiro.
It also gave police powers to deal with any dogs, of whatever breed, that became out of control in a public place.
But if a dog not on the banned list of types causes an injury on private property – such as someone’s home – it is not covered by the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The government’s consultation suggests extending the 1991 legislation to private property.
Another proposal is to introduce compulsory third-party insurance for dog owners to ensure attack victims are compensated.
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