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MP Calls for Change to Dangerous Dogs Act

Thu, 02 Jul 2009

An MP has called for a review of dangerous dog legislation after a series of attacks by dogs on postmen and other workers. Angela Smith, Labour MP for Sheffield Hillsborough, claimed that the Dangerous Dogs Act should be amended in order to protect the workers from being attacked by animals on private land, and to allow them to prosecute owners.

Mrs Smith’s claims are supported by unions who feel that thousands of postal workers are legally vulnerable to dog attacks as the law doesn’t include incidents on private property . Such unions claim that as many as 6,000 workers are attacked by pets each year whilst delivering post. Such attacks can result in post traumatic stress as well as disfiguring injuries, it is alleged.

Mrs Smith has introduced a private members bill calling for dog owners to be required to take simple precautions such as putting a post box on the gate, a cage around the letter box or hiding their pet when the post is being delivered. She also called for the ability to prosecute to apply in extreme cases, a view she claims is supported by the Royal Mail .
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