New law on third-party dog insurance

by Gill Montia

Story link: New law on third-party dog insurance

The Government is considering plans for legislation that will demand every dog owner in the UK carries third-party insurance against their pet causing injury to a person.

Concerns that dogs are being bred solely for the purpose of intimidating others have led ministers to review the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

According to Home Secretary Alan Johnson: “The vast majority of dog owners are responsible, but there is no doubt that some people breed and keep dogs for the soul purpose of intimidating others, in a sense using dogs as a weapon.”

He adds: “It is this sort of behaviour that we will not tolerate; it is this sort of behaviour that we are determined to stop.”

The pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentinos and the fila brasileiros are already banned in public places but can be a menace to postal workers, telecoms engineers and other people who enter private property in the course of their work.

An outright ban on certain breeds, together with compulsory third-party insurance is now reported to be under consideration.