Campaigners call for tougher dog laws

Unions have joined animal charities and enforcement agencies to call on the leaders of the main political parties to work together to improve and update the law on dog controls. The call comes ahead of the publication of a summary of responses to a government consultation on dog laws, expected this autumn.

The CWU communication workers’ union, the GMB and Unite general unions, public sector unions Prospect and Unison, together with organisations such as the RSPCA, have all signed a statement calling on the government to introduce legislation. A law is needed to address the problems of irresponsible dog ownership — whether allowing dogs to stray, be dangerously out of control or indiscriminately breeding them — and provide sufficient resources for local authorities and the police to enforce it.

CWU national health and safety officer Dave Joyce said: “This is a significant development in the campaign to get UK dog laws strengthened. Five thousand postal workers are attacked by dogs each year and serious dog attacks are on the rise, yet the prosecution rate remains woefully low.”