We should ‘not rush’ towards new dog laws says Dales MP

Derbyshire Dales MP Patrick McLoughlin has said the Government should “not rush” towards tougher legislation against dog owners, after 14-year-old Jade Lomas-Anderson was killed by four dogs in a tragic attack.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Apr 2013, 07:30 BST

Despite many MP’s pushing for tougher legislation – including covering incidents on private property – Mr McLoughlin told the Mercury he would not be joining MP’s calling for a reform.

Mr McLoughlin, who is also Secretary of State for Transport, said: “While this is clearly a very tragic incident, I still don’t think we know enough about the circumstances just yet and the government should not rush towards new, tougher, legislation.

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Police officer Brian Hall, section inspector for the Derbyshire Dales, explained that, while the area does not have a specific problem with ‘dangerous dogs’, police officers take reports extremely seriously – especially in the wake of the much-publicised attack.

“Any reports of dangerous dogs are taken extremely seriously by our officers as they can be very intimidating for people and it is antisocial behaviour,” said Inspector Hall.

“But the current legislation is actually quite tough and the owners of dangerous dogs can be made to have their pets put down.”

Jade Lomas-Anderson was found dead at a house in Atherton, Wigan, after being mauled by two Bull Mastiffs and two Staffordshire Bull Terriers .

Related topics:GovernmentDerbyshire Dales