How the dangerous dogs act works
Dogs are responsible for thousands of attacks on humans every year - but only a few dangerous breeds have been legally outlawed.
The Dangerous Dogs Act was brought in 25 years ago to force police and animal rescue organisations to euthanise certain types of dog considered a threat to people.
Breeds included in the act are the pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo argentino and fila braziliero.
An owner can face prosecution if they are found to be in possession of such a dog without permission and it will be confiscated by authorities.
Since its introduction there have been amendments to the legislation - in 1997 the mandatory destruction of banned breeds was removed and the Index of Exempted Dogs reinstated.
Decided by the courts, if they perceive an owner to be a responsible person and the banned dog presents no danger to public safety, the animal will be added to the index but must be kept by the owner under strict conditions such as being muzzled and on a lead in public.
Figures last year showed that dog attacks have soared 76% in the past decade, with more than 7,000 people taken to hospital between 2014 and 2015.
But the scope of the Dangerous Dogs Act means, however, that even if there are concerns that a specific dog is dangerous, unless it is a banned breed the action local authorities can take is more limited.
A dog can still be branded "dangerously out of control" if it injures someone, or makes someone worried that it might injured them.
It is also considered to be out of control if it attacks another animal or if the owner of an animal thinks they could be hurt trying to stop a dog attacking their animal.
Allowing your dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place, or a non-public place where the dog is not permitted to be, is a criminal offence.
Criticism was recently levelled at the act because concerns were raised by animal charities that dogs were being put down on the basis of appearance, rather than the danger they posed.
The RSPCA said last week it had been "forced" to put 366 dogs down under section one of the Act, which covers breed-specific offences, in the past two years.