Dangerous dog offenders in UK to get harsher sentences

A pet owner convicted of dangerous dogs offences will face harsher punishments, including a jail term of up to 14 years, under new sentencing guidelines in England and Wales.
The guidelines, which come into force from July, reflect 2014 changes to the law that increased maximum sentences.
The Sentencing Council said sentences were "likely to be higher than in the past" but must be "proportionate".
A council member said some irresponsible owners' dogs "put people at risk of injury and... Even death".
The 2014 changes raised the maximum jail sentence for a fatal dog attack from two years to 14.

The amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act also extended the law to include attacks which happen on private property, and introduced a new offence of attacks on assistance dogs such as guide dogs.

The changes to the sentencing guidelines cover offences where a dog injures or kills a person, injures an assistance dog, or where someone possesses a banned breed.
The banned dog breeds are: pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Braziliero, the BBC reported.
District Judge Richard Williams, a member of the Sentencing Council, said the guidelines "allow for a broad range of sentences to be given, depending on the seriousness of each offence".

He said: "We know that the majority of dog owners are responsible and ensure their pets do not put anyone in danger, but there are some irresponsible owners whose dogs do put people at risk of injury and in some cases even death."
Williams said those in charge of a dangerous dog, where a victim died, would be deemed to have "high culpability", with sentences ranging from six to 14 years.
Other factors where an offender is deemed to have "high culpability" include the dog being used as a weapon, being trained to be aggressive or where someone has a banned breed.

Those who are already disqualified from owning a dog will also face the toughest penalties.
The same factors will also be used to assess blameworthiness in cases where a victim is injured.
The Dog's Trust, which "broadly welcomes" the new guidelines, said: "We hope that with the increased maximum sentences for dog attacks, dog owners will be encouraged to ensure they act responsibly and that ultimately there will be a reduction in the number of dangerous dog attacks, although it is more likely that prevention will come from education."
James White, of the charity Guide Dogs, welcomed the guidelines and said: "Sadly, every year we hear of more than 100 guide dogs being attacked by other dogs."

He said such attacks were "traumatic" and might stop dogs from working, meaning their owner "may find it impossible to leave home on their own".
Official figures for England in May 2015 showed 7,227 admissions for dog attacks in past year, compared with 4,110 a decade ago.