Dog law needs more teeth, unions say

A parliamentary Bill aimed at amending the Dangerous Dogs Act to cover attacks on private land and to allow owners to be prosecuted has been welcomed by unions. As the law stands, thousands of postal and other workers are vulnerable to dog attacks.

The CWU communication workers’ union is working with public services union UNISON, and two animal charities — the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust — to push for a change in the law.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: “Around 6,000 postal workers are attacked by dogs every year with 70% attacked on private property where the Dangerous Dogs Act doesn’t apply and the owners are therefore not prosecuted.”

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis, whose members also have to face problem dogs, added: “It is appalling that district nurses, utility workers home care and social workers among others, run the risk of being attacked by these animals when visiting clients at home.”