Most people are now aware of the change in the law that says you are liable to prosecution if your dog bites someone on your own property. However not so many are aware that you can be prosecuted if your dog displays threatening or aggressive behaviour on your own property. In other words, if someone comes to your door, such as a salesman or a canvasser for instance and you open your door with your dog going mad behind you; if the person finds your dogs behaviour threatening or aggresive you could be liable to prosecution. Even a friendly dog jumping up at a visotor could be taken as threatening. To quote the National Animal Welfare Trust It is not unusual for a dog to be reactive to any visitor to your door, so you need to decide now how best to manage that situation. I delivered some dog food last night and the lady was just going for a walk with her dog as I turned up. She was outside the front door on her drive and the dog was trying to get to me. It was barking and pulling heavilly on its lead and she struggled to drag it inside and shut the door. Under the new law, a delivery driver with less understanding of dogs could now legitimately complain that he felt threatend and this lady could be prosecuted. I didnt feel threatened because I could read the dogs body language (he just wanted to lick me to death) but I hate to think of innocent people being put at risk of prosecution like this.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Jun 2014 12:51:05 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015