I saw this on the news this morning, and knew it woul be a hot topic.
Do the government really think that the owners of these dangerous dogs are going to microchip, and insure thier dogs?
Its madness, they have obviously realised that the problem of dangerous dogs is getting out of hand and have to be seen as trying to do something.

The problem seems to be dogs being imported, and complete lack of enforcment by the police and local authorities, these are the same people that are supposedly going to be enforcing this new law.

My three are chipped, but i dont have them insured. I also do not booster my dogs, puppy vacs of course. But after witnessing my mothers dog die from having one i said never again and i have not regretted it for a moment.

I hope the law is not passed because i really cannot see how it will solve the problem, as so many of these dogs are bought in under the raydar and there is no way of knowing how many dangerous dogs (and by dangerous i mean dogs used for intimidation and fighting, not an aggresive dog that is controled by a responsible owner) there are in this country.

> Every dog owner will have to insure their dogs against attacking people under new plans!
>

OMG Dill!   I had never thought about my Chihuahuas savaging anyone.  Apologies for being facetious!  Sorry, but it's b****y ridiculous.

People like me, with a multi dog household, couldn't possibly afford to insure them all.  It would take over half my monthly income!  As the magic fairy doesn't pay the mortgage, it isn't going to happen.  So, like Chelzeagirl, I will be breaking the law.

Yes, they are all microchipped.  They are not insured though.  I have what I call my dog credit card, and vet bills are paid with that.  When my eldest Beardie collapsed when a haemorrhagic tumour on her pancreas burst, I didn't say I can't afford over £1,000 when you don't know if she'll survive.  I worked at paying the cost off as and when I could.  And I am sure that I am not the only one in this situation.

Mind you, back in the old days, I was always the idiot that bought 5 dog licenses, yet everyone I knew with only one dog, didn't bother.  This government won't get my vote!

Home insurance covers pets third party claims,but pet health insurance quotes always ask if the dog is vicious or a guard dog and decline to insure if it is.Its another daft unenforceable idea,so many people drive uninsured cars what will make people insure their dogs.I would like to see all dogs microchipped by a non profit making agency,and wearing a disc on a  high viz collar as instant proof of a chip.Insurance to cover compensation for dog attack victims,would be open to all sorts of fraud,Surely the correct thinking is to prevent the attacks in the first place,my OH was out with two of my dogs on leads one evening,when three bull terriers not on leads launched a vicious attack,the owners ran off when they knew he had been bitten defending  our dogs.The police said it was a matter for the dog warden,but at 9pm there was no way they were available,The police just asked if we wanted an ambulance.Next day I contacted the warden who said as the bite was the result of a dog fight,it was not a problem,and as we could not identify the owners anyway, those three dogs are still roaming loose and we no longer walk that way after dark.There are 6 million dog owners in the uk,and its a very small minority who cause these problems,its not bad dogs,but bad owners.

Compulsary microchipping already exists here in Australia.

Within Queensland at least (not sure about other states) you are also supposed to register your dog with your local authority.  You are then supplied with a numbered & coloured plastic tag to be displayed on the dog's collar.
Here on the Gold Coast (again not sure about other councils) you are not supposed to keep more than one dog on your property unless that property is over 600m2.  If there are more than two dogs, you are required to have a special permit to keep up to four dogs.

Only those who are responsible dog owners will do this, those that are not, do not. 
Same story the world over sadly.
It doesn't work here, so how it can possibly work in the UK I'm at a loss.

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It seems some are getting diggy already where i live ,
yesterday me and OH walked to get son from school with one of our dogs , as we got thu the canal came out to peckham road and a women in a car waiting at the traffic lights called out to us, " Do you Want a puppy Staff " i looked around and called back that i have 2 others in doors and enough on my plate already,
she yelled back that the dogs chewing her house to pieces and she cant afford this insurance thing their wanting to bring out,

I said sorry but i really got enough on my plate with what i got already,

then on the way back thu the canal as we get to the end near our house a guy a bit ahead of us starts putting his dog on a lead (or so i thought), we turn to leave the park and his dog comes running up to ours,
he was only a young dog and seemed to want to play bouncing around our boy, i said to the guy how his dog had a lovely colouring and asked how old and what breed he was,

to then be told he was 8 months old and had a bit of staff in him but mostly pit bull,

I just dont know what to say to people anymore when they blaitently tell you their dogs pit bull, i had same thing with a couple in the dog food section at asdas the other week,
they had a 3 week old baby with them and i commented on how sweet she was, and the subject turned to the which dog food brand they should buy, so when i asked what breed Dad holding 3 week old baby said as proud as punch "A pit bull", :-(  i just want to shake my head and sigh,

I know what you mean chelseagirl unfortunately I dont know what the answer is.

I for one am NOT proposing to DO anything

We forget in this country, WE are the people the Government are answerable to, WE elect them and we PAY their WAGES!.   WE are NOT answerable to them and if this law is passed, they will be able to do nothing if we do not comply - look at car tax/insurance avoidance ;)  What are they going to do, put us ALL in prison?   They don't have a prayer on this and they know it.

What I'm wondering is, what are they trying to distract us from?  What is it that they don't want us to see? (look over there!)   What other infringements of our civil liberties are taking place and being pushed through under our very noses that they aren't shouting about?

Don't forget, last year it was MPs expenses = Look over there! = Swine Flu   

And what became of that?   Even my GP didn't believe that one

Here here!!
Could it be the double rise in fuel tax, or the MPs pay rise? I am sure the list goes on!!

The public consultation by Defra is now open whereby dog owners and others can have their say
Some of the questions are related to compulsory microchipping, compulsory insurance, tighter dog control orders (also to include controls on private property and not just public places) and should additional breeds be added to the DDA
I cant believe in this day and age they are considering extra breeds being added to the DDA
It is IRRESPONSIBLE owners and breeders who are the problem and aggressive, poorly controlled, untrained dogs can appear in ANY breed

I have added the link to the consultation- if admin feels it shouldnt be here then please remove but i feel every owner and breeder should stress that IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS are the problem and it is they who whould be targeted

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/dangerous-dogs/

looking at the link the consultation closes in June which just happens to be AFTER the next election deadline.
Could be this be another 'mouth & trousers' spin that this lot is so fond of doing and by the time the consult ends it will not be their problem as they will be out (Please Dog)

Presumably these proposals are connected to the fact that the number of people requiring hospital treatment due to dog attacks, has risen to 100 per week.  Personally I can't see how compulsory insurance will make any difference to these figures. The same number of people will probably still get bitten - the only difference will be that they'll be able to claim from the dog's owner.  Which proves it's all about money, not the safety of the public.....

It will never get through :-)

Presumably these proposals are connected to the fact that the number of people requiring hospital treatment due to dog attacks

No an Election subject that they think will be a vote winner. But yet again so flawed in the rationale behind the proposed Labour solution. :rolleyes: ADMIN PLEASE CAN WE HAVE THIS Smiley BACK :--D

Have filled in the online form on Defra's website.
Some thought provoking questions there.

I've done the DEFRA questionnaire too, there is a document to help if anyone isn't completely sure about some of the questions. 

I hope whatever is decided, they get it right for all the responsible dog owners.  The people they want to catch are just going to carry on slipping out the net if they don't and nothing will change.

So are you so sure that no other party would enforce this? After all, the last two decades seem to bear witness to Labour's capacity to promote a Conservative agenda...I don't think there's much to choose between them at all.

UPDATE thrown out :-)

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20100316/tuk-uk-britain-dogs-fa6b408.html

A complete u turn !

> The public consultation by Defra is now open whereby dog owners and others can have their say
> Some of the questions are related to compulsory microchipping, compulsory insurance, tighter dog control orders (also to include controls on private property and not just public places) and should additional breeds be added to the DDA
> I cant believe in this day and age they are considering extra breeds being added to the DDA
> It is IRRESPONSIBLE owners and breeders who are the problem and aggressive, poorly controlled, untrained dogs can appear in ANY breed
>
> I have added the link to the consultation- if admin feels it shouldnt be here then please remove but i feel every owner and breeder should stress that IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS are the problem and it is they who whould be targeted
>
> [url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/dangerous-dogs/" rel=nofollow]http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/dangerous-dogs/[/url]

Good news about the insurance turn around but I'd still suggest people fill in the consulation questionnaire and write in with your feelings on all the other issues. I imagine few of us want any other breeds to be banned under DDA.