E-petition debate: breed specific legislation

E-petition 300561, on the legislation relating to “dangerous dogs”, received 118,641 signatures. It calls for the Government to replace Breed Specific Legislation with a new statutory framework.

The petition has support from a number of dog and animal welfare organisations who argue that the law has failed to reduce the number of attacks by dogs and that the majority of dog attacks are not carried out by breeds listed as prohibited under the legislation.

There are currently four specific breeds of dogs that are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

• the Pit Bull Terrier
• the Japanese Tosa
• the Dogo Argentino
• the Fila Brasileiro

Under this Act it is also illegal to sell a banned dog, abandon a banned dog or breed from a banned dog.  

A debate on the topic will be held at 6:15 pm on Monday 5 July in Westminster Hall. The debate is sponsored by Elliot Colburn.