Britain's leading animal welfare charities today welcomed stiff jail terms to owners of ferocious dogs which attack and kill people and asked the government to launch a campaign on responsible dog ownership.
Under changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act, which came into effect yesterday in England and Wales, maximum prison sentences for allowing a dog to fatally attack someone increased from two years to 14 years, while the term handed down when injury is caused is up from two years to five.
For the first time, the Act also includes a specific offence to protect assistance dogs, such as guide dogs, from attacks, with guilty owners facing up to three years in prison.
It will also mean dog owners can face prosecution if their dog attacks a person in their home or on any private property, except if they attack a trespasser, British media reported.
Two babies were killed by dogs earlier this year.
A six-day-old baby was mauled by a family pet South Wales, in February. Less than two weeks later, a 11-month-old infant was killed by a pit bull terrier in Blackburn.
Welcoming the amended law, Trevor Cooper, from the Dogs Trust, said he hoped the changes would encourage owners to be "more cautious", but said tougher sentences were "not the solution". He called for a greater emphasis on prevention and education.
"What it will do principally is to punish after the events [when] we would rather there wasn't the event," he told BBC Radio.
Dee McIntosh, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home's director of communications, added: "We believe if more people understood how to care for and be around dogs, there would be far fewer tragic incidents.
"Battersea believes the only effective way to reduce attacks of the most vulnerable in our society is to provide earlier intervention and better education on responsible dog ownership," McIntosh said.
Guide Dogs chief executive Richard Leaman said: "An attack on a guide dog can be devastating."
"We're delighted that irresponsible owners can now be given tougher sentences if their dog attacks an assistance dog," Leaman said.
Defending the amended law, Animal Welfare Minister Lord de Mauley said: "Dog attacks can have horrific consequences for victims and families and it is only right those responsible should face tough punishments.
"Irresponsible dog owners will not only face longer prison sentences, but will also be liable for prosecution regardless of where an attack takes place, even in their own home," he said.
