Overview

The Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill amends the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, broadening the circumstances under which a dog can be deemed dangerous and altering the powers of seizure. The bill removes the requirement that a dog attack occur in a public place and clarifies the circumstances under which a dog can be seized.

Description

This bill makes key changes to the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. Specifically:

• Location of attack: It removes the restriction that a dog must injure someone in a public place for the Act to apply. Now, an attack causing injury or death anywhere is covered.
• Definition of injury: The bill changes "injures" to "causes injury or death to," explicitly including death as a consequence covered by the act.
• Seizure Powers: The bill modifies the criteria for seizing a dog, basing it on whether the dog is alleged to fall under section 1 of the act, instead of solely relying on the dog's previous seizure under section 5.
• Section 3(3) Removal: Section 3(3) of the 1991 act is entirely removed.

Government Spending

The bill does not explicitly state any direct impact on government spending. The potential costs may arise from increased enforcement and legal processes related to dog seizures and prosecutions.

Groups Affected

This bill will affect several groups:

• Dog owners: The broader definition of dangerous dogs and the relaxed location requirement could lead to increased scrutiny and potential legal action for dog owners.
• Law enforcement: Police and other officials will have altered procedures for dealing with alleged dangerous dog incidents.
• Legal professionals: Lawyers specializing in animal law will likely experience increased caseloads.
• Animal shelters/rescues: These groups may see a rise in the number of dogs seized and requiring care.

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