Born Innocent features in The Times
Born Innocent featured in The Times, in an article written by our Patron, Professor John Cooper QC, on why it is time to reform the Dangerous Dogs Act, 1991.
In the piece, we discuss how more protective measures need to be put in place to meet the real issues and strongly argue that the focus on breed specific legislation is flawed and ineffective.
We also point out the the need for public protection and how the act has utterly failed to provide this. The piece also talks about our campaign for the abolition of the act and how more protective measures need to be put in place to meet the real issues.
You can read the piece here but please be aware that there is a pay wall.
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Find out all about Born Innocent; our aims, objectives and what we are all about it here.
NEWS
The Latest News on our Campaigns
Born Innocent's Jayne Dendle recently met with Geraint Davies MP and discussed the case of Diesel the dog, you can read about him here.
Diesel is facing a destruction order, due to irresponsible dog ownership. Please keep in mind that Diesel has not done anything wrong. Jayne pointed out how a similar case had been dealt with very differently. Thanks to Jayne's intervention, Geraint Davies MP wrote to the Attorney General to assist in the case of Diesel.
You can click on the letter and read the full details. We thank him for his support for Diesel.
Meeting with MPs
George Eustice MP responds to 'Have a Heart' 2016 Campaign from our partner site
We have a number of partners that we work closley with, Putting Breed Specific Legislation to Sleep, is a Facebook group run by a professional and knowledgable team, within the Breed Specific Legislation arena.
They recently ran a very successful campaign on Valentine's Day, lobbying George Eustice MP to 'Have a Heart' over breed discrimination. He said, "I generally don't like the idea of putting down dogs if they pose no threat. Some pitbull type terriers, if cared for properly, can have good temperaments. However, completely lifting the ban on all breeds bred for fighting would be a risk. So what we have done instead is give the courts the ability to grant exemptions on a case by case basis where individual dogs pose no threat." To read more, click on the image.
"This Act doesn't provide any form of protection and victimises innocent dogs"
Born Innocent's Patron, Professor John Cooper QC, was interviewed on BBC Tees
on the 25th anniversary of the implementation of Breed Specific Legislation.
Professor Cooper talked about a wide range of issues including police processes and what makes good legislation.
He said, "Sometimes owners are being bullied by police to handover dogs that aren't dangerous and are destroyed without any process what so ever." He added, "The important thing about legislation is that it has to make a statement and also has to be effective."
When asked how he felt about this law, he said, "I, as a lawyer am embarrassed by this piece of legislation."
You can listen to the interview at 01:24:47 here or click on 'listen'.
"All dogs can bite in the hands of an irresponsible owner"
Born Innocent's Jayne Dendle, recently gave an interview to BBC Wales about the Dangerous Dogs Act and discussed the many flaws with Breed Specific Legislation. Jayne told the BBC's Ian Hunt that, "all dogs can bite in the hands of an irresponsible owner."
Born Innocent feature in Dogs Today
Born Innocent feature in the latest edition of Dogs Today magazine.
The article discusses Breed Specific Legislation and what type of legislation we would like to see, in place of this.
The piece focuses on the case of Butch, who was left without food or water after his owner passed away. Butch's case has come under the spotlight after his controverisal assessment by a police 'expert'.
The case is ongoing but it highlights just how controversial some police practises are, that lead to dogs fighting for their lives through the legal system.
The Senior Staffy Club have offered Butch a rescue place and James Parry of the solicitor's firm, Parry, Welch and Lacey, has been instructed in Butch's case.
Members of the Born Innocent team met with representatives from the Law Commission at the Ministry of Justice. We were invited in to discuss our report, that we prepared for them and formed part of their 13th Programme on Law Reform. We are grateful to Páraic Ó Súilleabháin PhD who contributed to our report.
We discussed at great length, the legal process that dog owners face when their dog is seized and typed by the police. Having had submissions from various agencies, we are pleased to say that the Law Commission have now taken this forward to DEFRA and news about whether the submissions have made the second round will be due soon. We will update when there is further news.
Born Innocent meet with the Ministry of Justice
Reviewing Government Strategy on Dangerous Dog Attacks
Born Innocent attended a strategy day on Tackling Dangerous Dog Attacks, which was a review of government strategy.
The event was also attended by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA, who also presented.
A wealth of topics were discussed including the failure of breed specific legislation, dog training and a joint approach by multiple organisations on how we prevent dog bites.
Born Innocent is committed to an educational approach combined with tougher penalties on irresponsible owners.