Further to the verdict on the tragic death of Ellie Lawrenson, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, calls for action to amend the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to include stringent control systems, appropriate enforcement and a focus on prevention.

Dogs Trust Chief Veterinary Director Chris Laurence comments;

“Clearly, the current legislation is not working. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 urgently needs to be reviewed and amended, ensuring that it concentrates on prevention and not criminalisation after the event.

The DDA should be amended to allow for controls to be imposed on irresponsible owners, with adequate punishments where controls have been unheeded, wherever unprovoked aggression happens, whether in a public or private place. If controls are not introduced and properly enforced then incidents like this tragic case will continue to occur.”

Dogs Trust believes that a duty of care should be placed on owners to have proper control of their dogs to prevent injuries, especially to children and other dogs.  We believe much of the underlying cause of aggression lies with the manner in which owners bring up and train their dogs and that through better education owners would substantially reduce aggression.

For press queries and interviews please contact Anna Robinson on 0207 833 7608 or anna.robinson@dogstust.org.uk