On the 6th of July 2024, a nightmare came to life when my dog Buddy, a toy poodle, was brutally attacked by a loose (no collar, lead or muzzle)medium sized dog outside and inside a bar while in my arms. It was a horrific attack, resulting in Buddy undergoing intensive surgery and reconstruction; he narrowly survived. Despite the attack, Buddy now lives with permanent damage and has to wear a nappy. Adding to his misery, he suffers from idiopathic seizures, an unforeseen outcome of this terrible incident.

Another devastating event involved a dear family friend, who recently lost her teacup Yorkie, Rocky. A Staffy jumped several fences, entered her garden, and mauled Rocky to death in front of her and her two young children. 

These horrors are needless and could be avoided with stricter laws and regulations around dog ownership.

Such incidents are unfortunately not isolated. National data from NHS Digital also shows there has been a steady increase in the number of hospital admissions for dog bites and attacks over the last 10 years.  There were 9,277 in 2022-23, up 47% from 6,317 in 2012-13.  Despite this alarmingly rising trend, the law only recognises dogs as "dangerous" based on their breed, overlooking the fact that any dog, regardless of breed, can pose a danger under certain circumstances.

The current Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) falls way short in protecting innocent pets or humans from dog-on-dog attacks or attacks in private property. We need comprehensive legislation that not only takes into account the breed of the dog, but also the circumstances and owner responsibility.

We need a policy overhaul. It is imperative that the UK government launches a comprehensive review of the current dog control legislation to provide clearer, more consistent laws.

Our request is for legislative amendments that ensure stricter regulations around dog ownership, including suitable breed handling training and stronger penalties for owners of dogs involved in attacks. It's also time the law, and those tasked with keeping us safe, responds more effectively to protect both pets and people from dangerous dog attacks. Owners should be held accountable for their dogs’ behaviour and harsher penalties should be in place for those who are negligent.

We believe that every pet deserves to live without fear and every owner to walk their dog without dread. So, please sign the petition now, for Buddy, Rocky and countless others to urge a reform in the UK laws around dog ownership and dog-on-dog attacks. Let's make our pet-friendly country safer for all dogs and their owners.