Dog owners warned pets could be euthanized if they look like certain breeds

Legislation in the Dangerous Dogs Act is somewhat patchy, with criteria for judging pit bull types based primarily on appearance and size, although there is an appeals process

Dog owners are warned their beloved pet could be euthanized if they share traits with a prohibited breed.

There are four such breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.

It’s illegal to own, sell, or breed any of these dogs—however, the law is a bit patchy with criteria heavily based on appearance and size when it comes to pit bull types.

If a dog shares certain traits with the banned fighting breed, it is at risk of being euthanized, the reports daily record.

However, there is a little-known exception where a dog can be granted a pardon if it passes a court behavior assessment.

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New data has revealed that between April 2021 and March 2022, children under the age of 15 will need to be hospitalized for dog-related injuries.

With an increase of 7.5 percent to 1,516, this is the second highest value since records began in 2007.

Becky Thwaites, public affairs director at animal rights group Blue Cross, has urged the government to update the legislation.

She said: “Many dogs confiscated as illegal breeds are in fact well-behaved dogs with responsible owners who are unfortunate enough to be the wrong measurements.

“Nearly as many dogs – non-prohibited breeds – were seized under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act last year as under Section 1 for being dangerously out of control, underscoring the importance for the Government of maintaining the legislative focus of the to change what a dog looks like to deal with irresponsible owners of any breed of dog to protect our communities.”

NHS data showed that hospitals in England had to deal with an average of four cases of dog bites affecting injured children every day for the last year.

The latest shocking figures suggest an “epidemic” of dog attacks has broken out, with 1,516 cases of children under the age of 15 being hospitalized for dog-related injuries between April 2021 and March 2022.

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Other NHS figures show that dog bite injuries requiring hospital treatment have more than doubled in 15 years since 2008 – with 10,000 a year requiring hospital treatment following an attack.

That’s a rate of 15 treatments where someone was “bitten or hit by a dog” per 100,000 population.

In 2005 it was seven cases per 100,000.

Meanwhile, residents on a street in Manchester have seen a series of violent dog attacks and warned the situation is “an accident waiting to happen”.

Neighbors in Platt Lane, Moss Side, say the presence of two “big” and “angry” Shar-Pei dogs has changed their lives.

The dogs in the area are believed to have killed at least four cats and bitten at least one woman – and given the proximity to an elementary school, neighbors are fearful of what may come next.