Dogs law 'cannot come soon enough'

Irene Grady described the dogs that attacked her granddaugher Rhianna Kidd as 'killing machines'
12 April 2012

New legislation to tackle dangerous dogs "cannot come soon enough" after a 10-year-old girl was mauled by two rottweilers, campaigners have said.

Rhianna Kidd was attacked by the dogs while riding her bicycle in Dundee on Sunday. The primary school pupil was treated for a fractured jaw and has had to have plastic surgery.

Caroline Kisko, of the Kennel Club, which has been campaigning for a change in the law regarding dangerous dogs, said: "People deserve to feel safe around dogs and the new legislation cannot come soon enough."

A new law on dogs was passed by the Scottish Parliament earlier this year but is not due to come into force until February.

The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act will place more emphasis on prevention of dog attacks by shifting the emphasis towards owner responsibility and tackling dangerous dog aggression at the earliest stage of bad behaviour, Ms Kisko said.

She added: "This new legislation goes a long way towards protecting the public through tougher action at the first signs of dangerous behaviour.

"Owners of aggressive or violent dogs of any kind will be brought to account, which in turn will prevent a large number of attacks by dealing with problem behaviour at the first signs of aggression rather than when an attack has taken place."

Irene Grady, the girl's grandmother, saw the dogs set upon the youngster as she pedalled towards her home in Dryburgh Street in the city. She had been dropped off by her father moments earlier. Mrs Grady, 56, described the dogs as "killing machines".

Earlier, speaking from her daughter's hospital bedside, Rhianna's mother Lisa, 30, praised the girl's grandmother: "If it hadn't been for mum, those dogs would have ripped Rhianna to pieces. She didn't hesitate when she saw the dogs attacking Rhianna.

"Mum recently broke her ankle and ribs in a fall and is still in pain, but she managed to get to my daughter in time."

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