Wales This Week - Time to tackle ‘canine racism’?

Dangerous dog laws are out of date and amount to ‘canine racism’, according to campaigners calling for new legislation in Wales.

Attacks by dogs are still making the headlines, despite the Dangerous Dogs Act introduced over twenty years ago.

Wales This Week has been talking to dog lovers, campaigners and victims of attacks.

Last week, the Welsh Government announced it would introduce a Control of Dogs Bill next Spring, although details are still sketchy.

Compulsory microchipping of every dog in Wales is one measure currently being discussed.

Campaigners say it would make it easier to track down the owner of a dog that has behaved dangerously.

It’s an offence to allow any dog to be dangerously out of control and four types of dog are banned in the UK. Animal welfare organisations are calling for the legislation to take into account how a dog behaves rather than its breeding - 'deed not breed'.

Many believe that training and education of both the dog and its owner is an important part of the solution.

When a dog attack takes place on private property, it is very difficult to bring a prosecution against the dog owner. More than 200 postal workers were attacked by dogs in the year to April.

WALES THIS WEEK - DOGS COLLARED? Tuesday 24th July at 7:30pm