MP renews dangerous dogs call on RSPCA visit

Buy photos » MP Geoffrey Robinson visits Coventry RSPCA centre. 05.012.023.cov.jg4

GEOFFREY Robinson visited an RSPCA centre as he continued the fight against dangerous dogs.

The MP has raised loopholes in current laws in parliament after a Coventry girl was attacked by a dog in a friend's house.

She needed 30 stitches after being bitten by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier but because the incident happened at a private property no police action could be taken.

It prompted a petition with 115 signatures to be handed to the city council last month, calling on it to put pressure on the Government to act over dangerous dogs.

Of 343 dogs taken by Coventry Animal Centre last year, 117 were Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

And Mr Robinson visited to see the impact of irresponsible dog ownership and came across one of the breed - Phantom - who was dumped in a field near the centre on Coundon Wedge Drive by its owner, who had been advised a space was not immediately available.

"We are urging the government to introduce much-needed legislation on the issue of irresponsible owners," said Mr Robinson.

"This would mean the onus would be firmly put upon the owners to make sure their dogs were socialised, trained and looked after properly and to make them more accountable for the actions of their pets."

He added microchipping should be made compulsory so dogs could be traced back to their owners more easily.

Glenn Mayoll, manager of the RSPCA-run centre, added: "We often take in dogs which may have been taken on as a sort of status symbol and which have then been neglected or abused.

"If every owner was made accountable for looking after their pet properly we hope we would see far fewer of these dogs through our doors."