Lesley Griffiths MS, Trefnydd and Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales validated today that authorities are taking a look at the reintroduction of dog licencing to secure down on hazardous dogs in Wales.
Taking First Minister’s Questions on behalf of Mark Drakeford, the minister exposed the propositions in reaction to a concern from Caerphilly MS Hefin David, who asked: “What steps is Welsh Government taking to improve animal welfare?”
Ms Griffiths responded that the Review of the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014 had actually been released, which additional brand-new animal well-being policies will be prioritised.
Mr David said: “In the last 15 months 2 Caerphilly homeowners have actually been killed by hazardous dogs. One was a 10 year-old young boy and the other a 83 year-old female.“
He was describing little Jack Lis who was trampled to death by an American Bully or XL Bully dog as reported on Nation.Cymru on 10 June 2022.
On 20 December 2022 Nation.Cymru likewise reported another event with a comparable breed of dog which assaulted an 83-year-old female who later on passed away.
Caerphilly
Both cases occurred in Mr David’s constituency of Caerphilly.
“Those dogs are discovering their method into neighborhoods like Penyrheol and others throughout Wales. When upgrading the Animal Welfare Plan (for Wales 2021 -2026) … can this concern be thought about, especially crossbreeding?
Mr David included: “I’d be happy to sit down with the Minister to speak about the consequences of changing the law and how it can benefit those communities which have been affected in such a tragic way.”
Ms Griffiths reacted: “Absolutely, I had a fateful dog attack in my own constituency as well. This is something that needs to be got to grips with.”
Mr David included that unethical dog breeders – as revealed on a current Panorama documentary – were crossbreeding hazardous dogs to navigate a loophole in the law.
Hefin David MS said that his coworker Wayne David MP for Caerphilly was pressing in Westminster for the UK Government to modify and upgrade The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
However, this Act is not degenerated to Wales said Ms Griffiths, who informed the Senedd, that in the lack of any motion on the matter by the UK Government, she had actually advised her own authorities to check out reviving dog licencing.
She said: “There is more we can do and I’ve asked officials to look at dog licencing again. When I was young, we had to have a dog licence and maybe now is the time to do that again. I’ve asked my interim Chief Veterinary Officer to do that for me.”
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