TOUGHER penalties have been announced for dog owners who allow their pet to fatally attack or injure a person.
Both offences previously carried maximum sentences of two years, and the new maximums of 14 years for fatal attacks and five years for injuries are to be welcomed.
These changes have been propelled by a number of high-profile dog attacks in private homes, particularly the deaths of a number of children caused by family pets.
But as a nation traditionally regarded as animal lovers, are we taking cruelty against animals seriously enough?
We are all familiar with horrific stories of violence against animals in our locality, and as a trustee of Notts charity the Animal Accident Rescue Unit I'm perhaps more familiar than most with violence inflicted on animals.
While these harsher sentences are a step in the right direction we need to take cruelty against all animals far more seriously, particularly when that cruelty is at the hands of a human.
A deliberate act of violence against an animal – defined in law as "causing unnecessary suffering" – carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison, a sentence most people consider seriously inadequate.
As pets are classed as property under the law, offenders could also be charged with theft for taking an animal and criminal damage if they have "destroyed or damaged" an animal belonging to another.
Again these offences seem seriously deficient in recognising the damage that can be done to both owner and animal – and suggest our legal system places a low value on animal welfare.
Not only can the loss of a cherished family pet be devastating, but there is strong evidence of a link between violence against animals and violence against other vulnerable groups, particularly children.
If we took animal cruelty less lightly then perhaps we could decrease the abuse of animals and other vulnerable groups. In Queensland, Australia, they are enacting a new offence of serious animal cruelty l carrying a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment. Is it unrealistic to suggest a similar change could and should be brought about in our legal system?
Although these new sentences rightfully criminalise dangerously irresponsible dog owners, it is time to go further and treat all animal cruelty seriously – not just for the animals but for society as a whole.
For information on the animal unit visit www.animal accident.org.uk.
