The Dog Ownership Suitability Test
An Outline Proposal:
A spate of serious and fatal dog attacks occurring In 2006 and the death of 5-year old Ellie Lawrenson on New Year’s Day 2007 has brought the issue of responsible dog ownership to a heightened level of national attention and has sparked debate on the subject of ‘dangerous’ dogs throughout the UK and at Government level.
Ryan O’Meara is a dog trainer and publisher of K9 Magazine. He has called for a dog ownership suitability test to be introduced in the UK. The proposed test is outlined here:
1. It is currently a right to own a dog in the UK. It should be a privilege. A privilege to be earned having demonstrated a level of understanding of a dog’s basic level of care and a fundamental knowledge of a dog owner’s obligations toward other members of society.
2. The dog ownership suitability test would be administered in a style similar to the driving licence theory exam based on a curriculum devised by professional dog experts and leading animal welfare bodies.
3. There would be a nominal, not prohibitive fee to assist with administration costs.
4. The test would not be enforceable by law. The means of ensuring widespread take up of the test would be to unite breeders, animal welfare centres and every responsible person involved in the supply of dogs to agree not to sell or supply an animal to anyone who could not supply a valid suitability certificate.
5. Media organisations that accept advertising for the sale or supply of dogs would be encouraged to only accept advertising from breeders/suppliers of dogs who agree only to sell/supply dogs to people with a valid suitability certificate. The aim is to create a level of understanding amongst the public that any breeder/supplier of dogs who is prepared to allow non-certificate holding people to acquire dogs through them is likely to be a far less responsible supplier.
6. By implementing a dog ownership suitability test, more powers of prosecution could be justified in cases of dangerous or neglected dogs. At present ignorance of the law does appear to be an excuse. Being able to categorically prove that a person did/does know the law relating to dogs, a dog’s basic level of care and their obligations under the dangerous dogs act would remove any element of leniency when prosecuting neglectful dog ownership.
7. Implementing a dog ownership suitability test would enable local authorities to increase their efforts in cases of dogs becoming an environmental nuisance. A suitability licence could be revoked in certain instances such as noise nuisance or environmental hazards i.e. owners not cleaning up after their pets. In the case where a certificate is revoked, a local authority would be entitled to issue penalty fines if nuisance behaviour persists. The fines would be perpetual until the nuisance is remedied and the suitability test is reissued.
8. At no point would a dog be seized as a result of a dog ownership suitability test breach, failure to pass or refusal to actually sit the test, however easily applied financial penalties would be an option open to prosecuting local authorities.
What You Can Do to Assist The Battle Against Callous Breed Specific Legislation:
Please add your support for a UK dog ownership suitability test by entering your name on an official Government petition
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/DogTest/
