CWU Bites Back And Launches Dangerous Dogs Act Petition
Communication Workers Union (CWU) joined forces with the Greater London Authority (GLA), Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home at the launch of a national petition against dangerous dogs. You can help by getting your Branch members to sign the petition!
In the same week, CWU Health and Safety Department announced that 20 different organisations agreed to back the Union's campaign and send a joint statement to the Prime Minister calling for the government to take action and change the law and deal with dangerous dogs and irresponsible owners!
The organisations signing the joint statement were:-TUC, Unite, GMB, Unison, Prospect, Animal Welfare Charities RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Kennel Club, Guide Dogs For The Blind, PDSA, Blue Cross, Police Federation, National Dog Wardens Association, British Vets Association and Royal College of Nursing.
The CWU delivered the Joint Statement to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and the Government calling for significant change to the current dangerous dogs law and action to deal with the issue of dangerous dogs.
The petition can be signed here
Promoting the petition, Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer wrote in LTB936/10:
We are now at a crucial stage in our campaign, having convinced the governments of Scotland and Northern Ireland to change the law (Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act and Northern Ireland Dogs (Amendment) Act) which will both become Law in 2011, making dangerous dogs law apply to private land and will enforce compulsory dog licences and micro-chipping as well an increased court penalties for irresponsible dog owners among other measures, everything now rests on Westminster in relation to Laws in England and Wales.
The Laws on dog ownership must be improved, and the CWU with our supporting organisations - animal charities, unions and law enforcement agencies etc demand the coalition government act and bring forward legislation that addresses the deficient laws effectively. Around half a million people are bitten or attacked by dogs each year, but there are fewer than 650 convictions annually. 5000 - 6000 CWU members fall victim to dog attacks annually.
Defra launched a consultation in March 2010 to seek "views on whether current legislation relating to dangerous dogs adequately protects the public and encourages responsible dog ownership." The consultation closed in June after receiving 4,250 responses.
We await the government's decision relating to dangerous dogs legislation after they've analysed the responses. It's crucial therefore to maximise pressure on the government to deliver new legislation.
Please do what you can to get signatures on the petition and bring our "Bite-Back" Campaign objectives to MPs in your areas of England and Wales asking them to change the Dangerous Dogs Act as has been done in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
'Bite-Back' Campaign Objectives
The 'Bite-Back' Campaign objectives are to get:
- new UK wide laws, that prevents dog attacks on postal workers, children and others,
- the dog control laws to apply everywhere including private property,
- the introduction of new preventative Dog Control Notices/Orders (DCNs/DCOs)
- new measures to make owners more accountable and responsible for the actions of their dogs,
- better enforcement of the law by the police and local authorities dog wardens,
- harsher sentences by the courts for offending dangerous dog owners,
- compulsory insurance cover for dogs,
- compulsory microchipping and licensing of all dogs,
- raise awareness of the serious problem and generate support for the above.
source: CWU
