Dangerous Dogs
Has your dog been seized by the Police or local authority? We can help you.
The Dangerous Dogs Act is complex and it is important you instruct specialist, experienced solicitors who understand this area of the law.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
We understand how distressing it is for your pet to be seized and the thought of your pet being destroyed. Whilst the authorities are often slow in progressing cases, there are options available to you before a decision is made.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 created a number of criminal offences, including the ownership of certain breeds of dog, and allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control.
We can help you by liaising with the Police or local authority at an early stage to seek a favourable resolution, including pre-charge engagement.
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Our legal experts know criminal law inside and out. We can allocate a lawyer for you, or you can request one of your choice.
What breeds of dogs are prohibited in the UK?
Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act makes it a criminal offence to own or be in possession of a particular type of dog.
The police or local authority will seize a dog if they believe a dog is of ‘type’. They will then conduct an assessment of the dog. If the assessment concludes that the dog has a substantial number of characteristics of the prohibited breed types, they will either charge you with an offence under Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act or make a civil application for the destruction of the dog under section 4B of the Act.
The types of dog which are prohibited are:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasiliero
- XL Bully.
To challenge the decision of the police or local authority, evidence must be provided to prove the dog is not a prohibited ‘type’ dog. It is therefore important to obtain expert advice at an early stage. We with leading experts to obtain the highest quality expert evidence.
Once a dog has been found to be of a prohibited type by a Court, there are very strict conditions which must be adhered to allow the dog to return home. It is, therefore, important to ensure that the assessment of the dog is accurate and you have high-quality evidence to support that the dog can be returned home.
If your dog has been seized as a suspected ‘type’ dog, contact us to see how we can help you.
What is outlined in Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act?
Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act makes it a criminal offence for a dog to be dangerously out of control where an injury to a person has occurred or where there is a reasonable apprehension of injury to a person.
If your dog is involved in an incident, the Police will often contact the owner of the dog and / or the person who was in charge of the dog at the relevant time. In some cases, the Police will seize the dog and hold the dog in their care until the conclusion of a case.
We appreciate how worrying this can be. It is important to obtain early advice from a Solicitor. We are able to assist people in England and Wales from the earliest stages of an investigation. We can assist before an interview, at interview, engage in pre-charge engagement, and following a charging decision.
Where an owner is not charged with an offence but the person responsible for the dog at the relevant time has been charged, we are able to assist with making representations to the Police and Court on your behalf. It is important that the owner has an opportunity to make representations in these circumstances and is aware of the possible Orders available to the Court.
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