Dangerous Dogs Act

Safeguards for Seized Dogs:

Please sign this petition which is asking for better safeguards to be implemented for all seized dogs. The petition is concentrating on three core changes regarding seized dogs and their owners:

1)  that where a dog is ordered to be destroyed by way of court order, no action will be taken without a written statement from the owner’s legal team stating no appeal has been nor will be heard.

2) that bodies of dogs that have died due to any cause, while in the care of the authorities are not routinely disposed of.  Instead owners must be notified in writing of the dog’s death and allowed the option to reclaim their dog’s body and any other items such as collars, within 7 days of receipt of the written notice. 

3) that a "cooling off" period of seven days should apply to dogs whose owners have signed over for destruction. This will allow owners time to take legal advice and withdraw their consent for destruction if they so wish.

To view and sign the petition please go to:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/safeguards-for-seized-dogs

Please support the petition to help prevent further tragedies like family pet dog Sam, who was euthanized in error whilst legal proceedings were ongoing and his case was due back in court.

Sam, a four year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier was seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) 1991 legislation on 5th May 2009, six months after an incident. His owner, Melanie Hawes attended Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to an offence under section three of the DDA; she was ordered to pay £500 in compensation and a Destruction Order was made against Sam.  A notice of Appeal was immediately lodged at court and the appeal hearing was scheduled for the 29th September at Isleworth Crown Court. 

Advice was sought from Dr Mugford, a leading animal behaviourist who carried out a behavioural assessment on Sam.  Dr Mugford found him to be friendly and compliant and concluded he should not be destroyed but should instead be made subject to a Contingent Destruction Order with conditions that he be either on a lead or muzzled when in a public place. 

Appearing before the Crown Court on 29th September, a hopeful owner, expert witness Dr Mugford and prosecuting and defence counsel were gathered and ready to commence proceedings when it was suddenly revealed that Sam's life had been ended on the 26th August 2009.

Apparently the police were unaware that an appeal had been lodged and Sam was dead. On being told this information in court His Honour Judge Lowen stated that this was in clear contravention of the Act which states that the order shall not take effect until the Appeal is heard.  He went on to say that this action was in conflict with those provisions and it was for another court to deal with the consequences.  Owner Melanie Hawes was left in court shocked to the core that the dog that she hoped would be coming home had in fact been dead for the past five weeks.

My Name Is Sam – This Is My Story Video -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiJJheo1-fA

As is usual in Dangerous Dogs Act cases, the owner wasn’t informed when her dog was to be euthanized nor offered the opportunity to receive the body back for burial or cremation.

Please sign the petition to help bring about change.

Please Visit Our Dangerous Dogs Act Section