Animal Welfare (Responsibility for Dog Attacks) Bill

Key Points

• Creates a new statutory duty on the person in charge of a dog to prevent fatal attacks on other dogs.
• Amends the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to set out this duty and its scope.
• Defines 'person in charge' and 'reasonable steps' within the bill's framework.
• Applies to dog owners, carers and others responsible for a dog, including in care or training roles.
• Puts the onus on enforcement under welfare law for failures to meet the duty; exact penalties to be determined by future stages.

Progress

The bill is at Second Reading in the House of Commons, starting its journey in Parliament. If it progresses, it would move to committee stage and subsequent readings in the Commons and Lords.