Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is a piece of UK legislation that was introduced in response to various incidents of serious injury or death resulting from attacks by aggressive and uncontrolled dogs, particularly on children. These incidents received heavy tabloid attention, causing widespread public concern over the keeping of dangerous dogs and a resulting legislative response. The Act is sometimes cited in the media (rightly or wrongly) as an archetypal example of bad or over-hasty legislation.

Four breeds in particular were identified by the Act:

• Pit Bull Terriers (a description which has led to some confusion, as the "Pit bull" is not a breed in and of itself but encompasses a range of breeds)
• Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro

It was made illegal to own any of these dogs without specific exemption from a court. The dogs have to be muzzled and kept on a leash in public, they must be registered and insured, neutered and receive microchip implants. The Act was also supposed to ban the breeding, sale and exchange of these dogs.

There have been several test cases of the Act, most famously Dempsey (a pit bull terrier) who in 1995 was finally reprieved from a destruction order, to widespread media attention. The definition of the word "type" in the legislation was of particular controversy, as was the lack of discretion that the Act gives magistrates.

Criticism of the Act

The Act has been described as a piece of rushed legislation[1] which was an overreaction to a transient public mood[2]. The Act is sometimes cited as an unfavourable example of such legislation[3], and in January 2007 was included in public responses to a BBC Radio 4 poll of unpopular UK legislation [4]

Comparable legislation outside the UK

Other countries also have laws pertaining to dangerous dogs. These vary in severity. In some jurisdictions in Australia dogs which have been declared dangerous are required to wear a collar of red and yellow stripes; under the legislation of some municipalities of Queensland, such dogs are seized and killed.

See also

• Breed-specific legislation
• Dog attack

External links

• Text of the Act
• BBC Article on a dog attack - July 2005
• BBC Article on a dog attack - Jan 2007
• BBC Article "How do you fend off a dangerous dog?"
• Family dog kills 5 year-old girl video
• BBC Article: Dangerous Dogs Act included in poll of unpopular laws
• Deed Not Breed UK Campaign fighting the addition of any new breed to the DDA.
• Stop Dog Attacks
• Rover's Law - Megan's Law for Bad Dogs