'London should adopt Wandsworth's dog chipping scheme' (From Wandsworth Guardian)

'London should adopt Wandsworth's dog chipping scheme'

7:10am Tuesday 17th November 2009

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Borough’s across London should adopt Wandsworth’s answer to the growing problem of dogs being used as aggressive weapon, Wandsworth Council leader Councillor Edward Lister says.

Last week he joined Kit Malthouse, London’s deputy mayor for policing, to hear the Metropolitan Police say there had been a huge increase in the number of weapon dogs in London - compared with other cities in the UK.

Figures show the number of pit bull dogs seized rose by 65 per cent in the last year, while court cases involving dangerous dog offences increased by 50 per cent between 2006 and 2007.

In the last five years, London's hospitals have seen admissions for dog bites increase by 79 per cent, compared to 43 per cent nationally.

Coun Lister said Wandsworth had introduced the first compulsory registration scheme for dogs on housing estates, and it should be extended across the capital.

He said: “The vast majority of dog owners are responsible - however, there needs to be a method by which the owners of stray or dangerous dogs can be traced and dealt with. We have found that the best way to do this is to have these pets chipped and registered.

“We are not anti-dog because we know the vast majority of dog owners are responsible.

"However, there needs to be a method by which the owners of stray or dangerous dogs can be traced and dealt with and the best way to do this is to have these pets chipped and registered.”

Mr Malthouse said dogs were “the weapon of intimidation” on London’s streets.

“Using a weapon dog is no different to using a gun or a knife to attack, maim and even kill,” he said.

“Certain types of dogs are inherently more aggressive than others.

"At the top of the list are bull breeds, developed for one purpose, to attack and fight.

"It is no longer valid to look solely for solutions which rely on responsible ownership."

Police said the maximum punishment for possessing a banned dog is a fine of £5,000, six months’ imprisonment or both.

Punishment for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control, causing a person to be injured, is up to two years in prison and a fine.

Since the Met created its Status Dogs Unit in March this year it has seized more than 680 suspected dangerous dogs.

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