Apr 15, 2010 – The Government has announced new plans that could see all dog owners in England and Wales having to take out compulsory third-party insurance for their pets to cover compensation claims.

In a bid to crack down on “dangerous dog” breeds, owners will have to insure their pets so that the victims of any attack by their dog can be properly compensated for their personal injury.

The 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act bans the ownership of four breeds of dog in Britain; the pit bull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the dogo Artentino and the fila Brasiliero. The Act also gives police the right to deal with any breed of dog that becomes out of control in a public place.

Along with compulsory dog insurance, the Government has also suggested amending the 1991 Act to cover dog attacks that occur on private property, such as a person’s home.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson has hit out at the practice of people keeping dogs for the sole purpose of intimidating others. He said: “What most dog owners recognise is that what’s going on is cruelty to animals. Other dogs are being treated abysmally because of this fashion for ‘status dogs’, which has been the main issue over the last five or six years.”

More than a hundred people a week are admitted to hospital in Britain as a result of a dog attack. The majority of these have been injured whilst visiting a private property as part of their job duties, including postal workers and electricians.

Billy Hayes, General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said: “This reform cannot come soon enough. Thousands of our members are attacked at work every year.”

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