This is about giving the dog wardens proper legislative power that will allow them to take dangerous dogs into custody, while under investigation thereby removing the immediate threat to society, speed up the investigation process, and in the event of a conviction that the penalties are actual deterrents.

This is about dog welfare, that all dogs, irrespective of size or breed, are given the proper space, care and socialisation they need to lead happy, healthy lives.

This is about pushing for change in dog ownership, looking into the possibility of implementing a Dog License, similar to a driving license, whereby we study and do exams to demonstrate we have the wherewithal to be responsible and respectful dog owners.

Please sign this petition 

Three weeks ago my little dog Chica was attacked by two Shar Pei's, as we walked home.  Chica was on a lead, the two Shar Pei's had bolted from their house.

The attack was vicious and sustained leaving my poor little girl with severe injuries.  Chica was operated on, but her injuries were too extensive and she did not make it through the surgery.

Now I am left with the trauma of witnessing the attack on Chica, the unbearable pain and guilt of losing my little girl in such a horrific manner and a vet bill of over £2,500 in trying to save her life, after I managed to get her back from those dogs.

Chica was more than a pet dog, she was my absolute best friend, my family; I literally lost my little girl and my heart is shattered.

Immediately after the attack, on our way to the emergency vets, I called the police to report that the two dogs were roaming free and had viciously attacked my dog; I was concerned about children or other dog owners.

As leglisation stands in Northern Ireland, dog attacks on other dogs, fall under the responsibility of the Dog Wardens, who work from 8am to 8pm. So even though in this instance the police contacted the dog warden for me, they could not help further than this and the dog warden could not help until 8am the following day.

When this was picked up by the dog warden, the leglisation is such that the dog wardens are working with such limited powers. 

These vicious dogs remain with their owner, a young woman who is heavily pregnant and seems to be insisting on bringing a baby into the home with these dogs.  

The Dog Wardens have imposed control conditions on both dogs that they must be kept secure when not in public, and kept on a lead and muzzled when in public. 

These two large dogs are kept in a small yard, littered with their excrement and are not properly socialised for the size and breed of the dog.

I did advise the Dog Warden that if the dogs were surrendered to the Dog Warden that I would request that there would no further criminal prosecution for the attack.  However, this seems not to be the case.  Instead, the owner is now trying to re-home at least one of the dogs, so moving the threat of an attack to a home or street near you.

It seems insane that as a civilised society we allow attacks of this nature, and worse, much, much worse, to repeatedly happen; with such little consequence for the owners of the perpetrators of the attacks.

If we do not draw a line in the sand and push for change then we are enabling this behaviour and every single one of us is as guilty as the irresponsible owners.

Dogs are not just for Instagram or Tik Tok posts, they are not just for Christmas, not just to dress up in cute outfits and take pictures or gold chains and studded collars.

Dogs are living beings and to many of us they are either part of our family or they are our family.  They need to be respected as such and we need, an now very outdated, legislation to reflect this.

Please sign this petition.  

I will follow up with those that need to be followed up with to make this happen but the more signatures we have the stronger our voice.  

Chica and I were a team in life and we are still a team in death.  I owe it to my little girl to make sure she did not die in vain.

Please sign this petition.