Keith Mack
Dog bites are a serious issue that has been on the rise in recent years, with 21,918 dog attacks in England and Wales in 2022. The legal consequences of a dog biting or attacking another person or animal are set out in two key pieces of legislation: the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Animals Act 1971. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, it is a criminal offence for a dog to be 'dangerously out of control' in a public place, which can result in prison sentences for the owner or person caring for the dog. The Act was amended in 2014 to include dog attacks on private property, making owners liable even if a trespasser is bitten on their property. The Animals Act 1971 imposes civil liability, allowing people to bring a civil claim following a dog attack if the owner was negligent. If you've been bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to compensation, and it's important to understand your rights and the legal process for pursuing a claim.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Law | Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, amended in 2014 |
| Location | Applies to public and private spaces |
| Owner responsibility | Owners are responsible for their dog's behaviour and can be prosecuted if their dog is "dangerously out of control" |
| Penalties | Fines, control orders, custodial sentences, destruction of the dog, banning of certain breeds |
| Claim for compensation | Possible if bitten by a dog, especially if the owner was negligent |
| Defences | If the dog was under the control of a fit and proper person, if the dog was being used for a lawful purpose, or if the dog attacked a trespasser inside the home |
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What You'll Learn
Owners are responsible for their dog's behaviour
In the UK, dog bites and attacks have been increasingly prevalent in recent years, with 21,918 dog attacks in England and Wales in 2022, a rise from 16,394 in 2016. Although deaths from dog attacks are typically low, there were 16 deaths in 2023.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 outlines that it is a criminal offence for a dog to be 'dangerously out of control' in a public place, which is usually interpreted as a dog causing injury or fear of an attack. This legislation was amended in 2014 to include private spaces, meaning dog owners can now be liable for injuries caused by their dogs on their property. This includes injuries to trespassers, with some defences available if the dog attacks an intruder inside the home.
Owners can face a range of penalties if their dog is deemed dangerously out of control or attacks someone, including fines, control orders, and prison sentences of up to 14 years if a dog kills someone.
It is important for dog owners to understand their obligations to keep people safe and take steps to prevent dog attacks. This includes paying attention to their dog's behaviour and body language and removing them from situations where they may become aggressive or feel threatened.
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Victims may be entitled to compensation
If you have been bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to seek compensation from its owner. The key here is whether the dog's owner has been negligent. This negligence could be a history of aggressiveness or an inability to control their dog. For example, if a dog with a history of aggressive or unpredictable behaviour has been allowed to roam in public without a lead, or if an owner has failed to take prompt, reasonable steps to control a visibly stressed or aggressive animal.
The Animals Act 1971 imposes civil liability, which allows people to bring a civil claim following a dog attack. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 also sets out the legal consequences of a dog biting or attacking another person or animal. It is a criminal offence for a dog to be 'dangerously out of control' in a public place, and this is usually interpreted as a dog causing injury to a person or another animal. The Act suggests prison sentences if an owner or someone caring for the dog is found guilty, with a maximum sentence of five years if someone is injured by a dog, or up to 14 years if a dog kills someone.
If you own a dog, you have a responsibility to keep it under control. If you fail to do this, you could face a range of penalties, including control orders, such as requiring the dog to be kept on a lead or wear a muzzle, or banning the dog from certain places. You could also face short custodial sentences.
If you have been bitten by a dog and want to seek compensation, you can contact a lawyer to discuss your case. They can give you a free consultation to explain the legal process of pursuing a dog bite compensation claim, explaining what's needed at each stage. You can also take detailed notes about what happened and gather as much evidence as possible, including medical records and witness statements.
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Dogs must be kept under control
In the UK, dog bites and attacks have been a concern for many years, with the first laws to protect people from dogs dating back to Saxon times. The laws and regulations have since changed, but the underlying principle remains the same: dog owners must take responsibility for their dog's behaviour.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is the primary legislation governing dog attacks. It stipulates that it is a criminal offence for a dog to be 'dangerously out of control' in any place, including public spaces and private property. A dog is deemed 'dangerously out of control' if it causes injury to a person or another animal, or if it causes a person to reasonably fear an attack. This interpretation is not exhaustive, and each case is judged individually. Aggressive behaviour towards a person will almost always be grounds for reasonable apprehension of injury.
The penalties for a dog being 'dangerously out of control' can be severe. Owners may face an unlimited fine, imprisonment of up to 14 years, or both. The court may also ban the owner from owning dogs in the future and order the destruction of the dog. Control orders may be imposed, such as requiring the dog to be kept on a lead or wear a muzzle, or banning it from specific locations or types of places.
To prevent dog attacks, owners should pay close attention to their dog's behaviour and body language to ensure they are not becoming aggressive, threatened, or scared. If a dog exhibits aggressive body language, owners should calmly but quickly remove them from the situation. Owners can seek advice from professionals like vets, dog behaviourists, or dog trainers if they are concerned about their dog's behaviour.
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The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
The Act was introduced by then-Home Secretary Kenneth Baker in response to a series of dog attacks in 1991, with the intention of protecting people from dangerous dogs and dog attacks. Before the Act, there were no criminal penalties for injuries or deaths caused by dog attacks. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 has been amended several times since its introduction, with the most recent amendment in 2023 adding the American Bully XL breed to the list of banned breeds.
The Act is made up of two key parts. Firstly, it is a criminal offence for a dog to be "dangerously out of control" in a public place, which is usually interpreted as a dog causing injury to a person or another animal, or causing fear of an attack. This section also includes provisions for prison sentences for the owner or caregiver of a dog found guilty of being "dangerously out of control" in public, with a maximum sentence of five years if someone is injured and up to 14 years if someone is killed.
The second part of the Act is breed-specific legislation (BSL) that makes it unlawful to own certain breeds of dogs, primarily those bred for dog fighting. This legislation has been controversial, with critics arguing that it focuses on a dog's breed or looks rather than its behaviour, and that there is no scientific evidence that all individuals of a breed are dangerous.
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Reporting dog attacks
If you've been bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to compensation. The key here is whether the dog's owner has been negligent. This negligence could be a history of aggressiveness or an inability to control their dog. The Animals Act 1971 imposes civil liability, which allows people to bring a civil claim following a dog attack.
If you've been bitten or attacked by a dog, you should report the incident to your local police force. If someone is in immediate danger, call the police on 999. If not an emergency, call 101 or report it on the police website. You can also report dog attacks to your local council.
To claim for a dog bite, you can contact a lawyer to talk about your case. They can give you a free consultation to explain the legal process of pursuing a dog bite compensation claim, explaining what's needed at each stage. You can also take detailed notes about what happened and write out a full account of the incident as soon as possible. Gather as much evidence as possible, including medical records and doctors' opinions and judgments. Get the contact details of as many witnesses as possible and ask them to write statements about the attack.
Most of the legislation concerning dog bites is covered by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. It's a criminal offence for a dog to be 'dangerously out of control' in a public place. While this is a rather vague term, it is usually interpreted as a dog causing injury to a person or other animal, or causing fear of an attack. The Act suggests prison sentences if an owner or someone caring for the dog is found guilty of having a dog dangerously out of control in public. There is a maximum sentence of five years if someone is injured by a dog, or up to 14 years if a dog kills someone.
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Frequently asked questions
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 makes it a criminal offence for a dog to be "dangerously out of control" in a public place. This includes causing injury to a person or another animal. The penalties for dog bites can include fines, imprisonment, and dog control orders.
If you are bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to seek compensation from the owner. You can contact a lawyer to discuss your case and take the following steps: take detailed notes about the incident, gather evidence, and get witness contact details.
If your dog bites someone, you may face legal consequences, including fines and imprisonment. It is important to pay attention to your dog's behaviour and body language to ensure they are not becoming aggressive. You should also seek legal advice immediately.
