Our animals are frequently more than simply animals. So frequently they are our buddies, offering psychological assistance throughout challenging times and contributing extremely to our psychological wellness.
Dogs are the most popular animals in the UK, acting as faithful buddies and pals to around 22 countless us. We need to do all we can to safeguard them.
The destruction developing when a precious dog is extremely assaulted and killed by another dog cannot be ignored.
This is something I have actually seen first-hand through my constituent Michael, who lost his lovely Bichon Frise Emilie in 2021.
While still on her lead, Emilie (passionately called Millie) was strongly assaulted “like a missile” by a released dog in his regional park in Leigh-on-Sea in my lovely constituency of Southend West.
After the experience of enjoying Emilie be “shaken like a rag-doll”, Michael was entrusted to no choice however to bring her, bleeding and with severe open injuries to her abdominal area, to the closest veterinarian.
Despite their best shots, Emilie needed to be put down. Understandably, Michael stays traumatised to this day.
Very unfortunately, his story is not distinct. In the 5 years in between 2016 and 2021 there was a 700 percent boost in dog-on-dog attacks, with one dog attack taking place every 45 minutes.
Devastatingly for both the dog and the owner, a few of these are deadly.
This incredible increase in attacks is maybe partially credited to the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw 12 percent of individuals in the UK get a brand-new animal, almost half of which – 40 percent – were dogs.
Millions of dogs were purchased throughout the pandemic without being correctly hung out outside with other dogs or trained efficiently.
What can be done to resolve the growing frequency of such attacks? Unfortunately, in cases like Michael’s, where he was not in worry for his own personal safety, and Emilie was not a service or help dog, then the assaulting dog cannot be categorized as “hazardous” under the law.
There is, for that reason, little option available for victims. In circumstances such as these the owner bears no obligation, and the dog that triggered Emilie’s death can continue to wander the park easily, while Michael is too traumatised to return.
It is merely inappropriate that bereft owners such as Michael are rendered helpless under the law when their valued animals succumb to the carelessness of careless dog owners.
Clearly there is a pushing requirement to resolve this problem, which’s exactly the inspiration for the Animal Welfare (Responsibility for Dog Attacks) Bill which I’m releasing today and calling “Emilie’s Law”.
Emilie’s Law will make deadly dog-on-dog attacks a criminal offense, holding dog owners liable for their animal’s actions.
In essence, this Bill would extend defenses to all dogs that presently just use to service and help dogs.
Of course, while the death of this law would be a considerable action in the best instructions, its efficiency will depend greatly on enforcement. Therefore, we need to work carefully with the authorities and police to establish robust systems that will make sure that culprits are brought to trial.
I hope you will join me in supporting Emilies Law which has its First Reading on May 23.
Together we can send out an effective message that the safety of our dogs, and certainly all members of our neighborhood, is of critical value.
We can resolve the little however substantial minority of dog owners who are putting other animals at danger through their carelessness and look for justice for the lots of ‘Emilies’ who lose their lives each year.
