This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-26620370
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Dog attacks in Wales up by 81% over the last 10 years | Dog attacks in Wales up by 81% over the last 10 years |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dog attacks in Wales have increased by 81% in the last decade, a BBC investigation has found. | Dog attacks in Wales have increased by 81% in the last decade, a BBC investigation has found. |
| Research by Week In Week Out found there were 407 hospital admissions from incidents in 2012/13 alone, with 91 of those aged 14 or under. | Research by Week In Week Out found there were 407 hospital admissions from incidents in 2012/13 alone, with 91 of those aged 14 or under. |
| Andy MacNab, a consultant in emergency medicine at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, said they were treating two or three dog bites a week. | Andy MacNab, a consultant in emergency medicine at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, said they were treating two or three dog bites a week. |
| Animal charities want legislation which punishes the dog's deed, not its breed. | Animal charities want legislation which punishes the dog's deed, not its breed. |
| Although there were amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act, they want it to go further. | Although there were amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act, they want it to go further. |
| The RSPCA says owners would have to abide by dog control notices if their pet was a nuisance or out of control. | The RSPCA says owners would have to abide by dog control notices if their pet was a nuisance or out of control. |
| But the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the amendments gave more "flexibility". | But the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the amendments gave more "flexibility". |
| 'No concern' | 'No concern' |
| Charities told BBC Wales' Week In Week Out of their concerns over backstreet breeding. | Charities told BBC Wales' Week In Week Out of their concerns over backstreet breeding. |
| Researchers for the programme contacted 20 people who were advertising dogs, such as huskies, to find out what questions they would ask potential buyers. | Researchers for the programme contacted 20 people who were advertising dogs, such as huskies, to find out what questions they would ask potential buyers. |
| None wanted to know if the dog would be living with small children. | None wanted to know if the dog would be living with small children. |
| When researchers said the dog would be kept in a small flat with a newborn baby and no garden, six out of the 20 expressed concern about the size of the home and three refused to sell their animal because of the circumstances. | When researchers said the dog would be kept in a small flat with a newborn baby and no garden, six out of the 20 expressed concern about the size of the home and three refused to sell their animal because of the circumstances. |
| But four were happy to sell. | But four were happy to sell. |
| Week In Week Out used the latest NHS Wales data which suggests there has been an 81% increase in dog attacks since 2002/03. | Week In Week Out used the latest NHS Wales data which suggests there has been an 81% increase in dog attacks since 2002/03. |
| "The most emotive wounds that we see tend to be the facial wounds - it tends sadly to be in children," said emergency medicine consultant Mr MacNab. "Even with good plastic surgery there is usually a cosmetic consequence to a dog bite on a face. | |
| "Very severe dog bites particularly to children may require many hours in theatre and admission to hospital for days, occasionally may even lead to intensive care admissions." | "Very severe dog bites particularly to children may require many hours in theatre and admission to hospital for days, occasionally may even lead to intensive care admissions." |
| The Dangerous Dog Act, which was passed in 1991, banned four breeds in the UK - pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brazilierohas. | The Dangerous Dog Act, which was passed in 1991, banned four breeds in the UK - pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brazilierohas. |
| But it has been criticised as hurried legislation and some have argued it has failed to effectively deal with the problem of dog attacks, | But it has been criticised as hurried legislation and some have argued it has failed to effectively deal with the problem of dog attacks, |
| The RSPCA has said punishment should concentrate on a dog's deed rather than the breed. | The RSPCA has said punishment should concentrate on a dog's deed rather than the breed. |
| Prof Kenton Morgan from Liverpool University, who has led research into how to reduce the risk of dog bites, agreed with the charity. | Prof Kenton Morgan from Liverpool University, who has led research into how to reduce the risk of dog bites, agreed with the charity. |
| "I think the Dangerous Dog Act was a knee-jerk reaction," said Prof Morgan. | "I think the Dangerous Dog Act was a knee-jerk reaction," said Prof Morgan. |
| "If you review all the literature there is no evidence that the breeds that have been stipulated are more likely to bite than any other dog so I don't think that breed directed legislation is effective. In fact, in Holland they've recently repealed their breed-directed dangerous dogs act." | "If you review all the literature there is no evidence that the breeds that have been stipulated are more likely to bite than any other dog so I don't think that breed directed legislation is effective. In fact, in Holland they've recently repealed their breed-directed dangerous dogs act." |
| Increased penalties | Increased penalties |
| Until last year, the Welsh government was considering introducing dog control notices as part of the Control of Dogs (Wales) Bill. | Until last year, the Welsh government was considering introducing dog control notices as part of the Control of Dogs (Wales) Bill. |
| However, it dropped those plans in order to work with the UK government on the introduction of a new law covering England and Wales. | However, it dropped those plans in order to work with the UK government on the introduction of a new law covering England and Wales. |
| The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill, which amends parts of the Dangerous Dogs Act, will come into effect in May. | The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill, which amends parts of the Dangerous Dogs Act, will come into effect in May. |
| It includes increased penalties and sentencing to tackle the issue of nuisance dogs, but does not include control notices and has left the RSPCA disappointed. | It includes increased penalties and sentencing to tackle the issue of nuisance dogs, but does not include control notices and has left the RSPCA disappointed. |
| Steve Carter, the RSPCA's director for Wales, said: "We thought the dog control notice was a very effective way of dealing with the issue, through training, education and by enabling owners to understand how their actions are impacting on their animals. | Steve Carter, the RSPCA's director for Wales, said: "We thought the dog control notice was a very effective way of dealing with the issue, through training, education and by enabling owners to understand how their actions are impacting on their animals. |
| "We think the Westminster legislation is very generic and dogs are just in there because they form some of the behaviour." | "We think the Westminster legislation is very generic and dogs are just in there because they form some of the behaviour." |
| Natural Resources Minister Alun Davies has said his officials have been working closely with Westminster and Defra and does not rule out taking legislation for dogs back under Welsh control. | Natural Resources Minister Alun Davies has said his officials have been working closely with Westminster and Defra and does not rule out taking legislation for dogs back under Welsh control. |
| "It is not something which we have walked away from," he said. | "It is not something which we have walked away from," he said. |
| "If I am persuaded that the UK legislation doesn't deliver the statutory framework that I believe is necessary then yes, we will go back to our legislation and yes, we will pursue legislation." | "If I am persuaded that the UK legislation doesn't deliver the statutory framework that I believe is necessary then yes, we will go back to our legislation and yes, we will pursue legislation." |
| Defra has said the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime, and Policing Act will allow police and local authorities to issue community protection notices before any dog attack takes place. | Defra has said the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime, and Policing Act will allow police and local authorities to issue community protection notices before any dog attack takes place. |
| It will address the same issues as dog control notices but will offer greater flexibility, the department said. | It will address the same issues as dog control notices but will offer greater flexibility, the department said. |
| The programme comes after the death of six-day-old Eliza-Mae Mullane at her home at Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire, where Dyfed-Powys Police seized and destroyed two family dogs. | |
| Week in Week Out is on BBC One Wales on Tuesday, 18 March at 22:35 GMT | Week in Week Out is on BBC One Wales on Tuesday, 18 March at 22:35 GMT |