Overview

The Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill aims to strengthen the existing Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 by broadening the circumstances under which a dog can be deemed dangerous and altering the powers of seizure related to such dogs. The bill removes the requirement that an attack must occur in a public place and expands the definition of harm to include death.

Description

This bill amends the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act 1997. Key changes include:

• Location of attack: Removes the requirement that a dog attack must occur in a public place for the Act to apply. This means that attacks in private property will also fall under the legislation.
• Definition of harm: Replaces "injures" with "causes injury or death to," expanding the scope of the act to include instances where a dog causes death.
• Powers of seizure: Amends Section 4B, clarifying the circumstances under which a dog can be seized. The legislation now focuses on the alleged application of Section 1 instead of relying on the method of seizure.

Government Spending

The bill does not provide details regarding the impact on government spending. The cost of implementing the changes, including potential court costs and resources for animal control, is not specified.

Groups Affected

• Dog owners: The amended act could lead to increased liability for dog owners, particularly in cases where a dog causes injury or death, regardless of location.
• Law enforcement: The police and animal control officers will be tasked with enforcing the broadened definition of dangerous dogs and the expanded powers of seizure.
• Courts: The courts will likely see an increase in cases related to dangerous dog offences due to the wider scope of the legislation.
• Dogs: The bill may lead to increased seizures and potentially euthanasia of dogs deemed dangerous.

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