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London Dog Forum > Dog Information & Dogs Lost > Dog Legislation > The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 & 1997

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 & 1997

Section 1 of The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Prohibits four types of dogs:

The Pit Bull Terrier
The Japanese Tosa
The Dogo Argentino
The Fila Braziliero

This Act led to a lot of controversy as dangerous dogs are classified by type and not by breed and therefore a dog is judged as being dangerous according to its physical characteristics rather than its breed.  In 1997 this Act was amended.

The Dangerous Dog (Amendment) Act 1997

The mandatory order to destroy all dogs that fitted the description of the ‘dangerous dog’ type was removed and courts were given the discretion on sentencing and re-opened the index of Exempted Dogs for those prohibited dogs which the courts did not consider to be of risk to the public.  Only the court has the power to decide which dogs can be placed on this list. 

If you need to know the law on prohibited dogs in other countries it is advised that you contact the Embassy of the Country concerned within the UK.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Any owner or person in charge of a dog that is dangerously out of control in a public place is committing an offence.  If the dog injures a person while out of control, this is an aggravated offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. 

Should the owner of the dog be prosecuted for an offence at a time when he was not in charge of the dog, it should be a defence if he can prove that he reasonably believed that the person who was with the dog at the material time was a fit and proper person to be in charge.

Remember that a dog can be considered out of control even if it is simply chasing, barking at or jumping up at a person or child.

The 1991 Act clarifies the Dogs Act 1871 which is not part of criminal law but because it operates on lower standards of proof it is considered useful in that it provides a remedy for destruction or imposition of controls on dangerous dogs even when a criminal offence has not been committed.  It should be noted that the Dogs Act 1871 applies everywhere including a private house or back garden giving such people as postman or neighbours reasonable grounds for taking action against a dog that is out of control. 

   
 
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