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If you have been accused of possessing a dangerous dog, whether it’s said to be dangerous because of its actions or because of its breed, or if you have been accused of having a dog that was out of control it is vital you take legal advice quickly. Police have the power to seize the dog and it may be destroyed if a court decides that it is dangerous.
You can be prosecuted if your dog attacks a person, livestock, another dog, etc whether the incident happens in public or on your own property. In those circumstances, you could be prosecuted for failing to control your dog and the penalty can include lengthy prison sentence where death or injury occurs. It is also very likely that without proper legal representation your dog would be put down by the court – the question of whether the dog is destroyed is separate from whether you are guilty or not. When deciding if a dog should be destroyed the court is concerned with whether the dog is dangerous or not. Evidence of the dog’s usual behaviour will be vital as will evidence showing what happened to trigger the incident in question.
Free 24/7 consultation
Speak to an expert today!
We provide a free initial consultation in criminal cases. We do not handle Legal Aid cases. We do not act on a no win, no fee basis. All enquiries are completely confidential.
If you have been accused of possessing a dangerous dog, whether it’s said to be dangerous because of its actions or because of its breed.
Free 24/7 consultation
Speak to an expert today!
We provide a free initial consultation in criminal cases. We do not handle Legal Aid cases. We do not act on a no win, no fee basis. All enquiries are completely confidential.
If you have been accused of having a dog that was out of control it is vital you take legal advice quickly. Police have the power to seize the dog and it may be destroyed if a court decides that it is dangerous.
You can be prosecuted if your dog attacks a person, livestock, another dog, etc whether the incident happens in public or on your own property. In those circumstances, you could be prosecuted for failing to control your dog and the penalty can include lengthy prison sentence where death or injury occurs. It is also very likely that without proper legal representation your dog would be put down by the court – the question of whether the dog is destroyed is separate from whether you are guilty or not. When deciding if a dog should be destroyed the court is concerned with whether the dog is dangerous or not. Evidence of the dog’s usual behaviour will be vital as will evidence showing what happened to trigger the incident in question.
If you are able to show that the behaviour is natural behaviour for a dog then it will not be deemed dangerous, for example, in one case a dog attacked and killed two pet rabbits. It was held not to be a dangerous dog because killing smaller animals is natural behaviour for dogs.
Where your dog is alleged to be a member of a banned breed you will require expert veterinary evidence to establish that the dog does not have the characteristics of a banned breed.
If you require legal advice about an alleged dangerous dog then do not hesitate to contact us and we will get to work supporting you and saving your dog.