London is seeing an “epidemic” of illegal dog fights and dangerous breeds, an MP warned today.
The number of dog fights reported to the RSPCA has soared from 24 in 2004 to 328 in 2010, said Tory George Eustice.
Since 2002, the number of so-called status dogs - breeds developed for ferocity and strength - seized by the Metropolitan Police has surged from 35 to more than 1,200.
Mr Eustice is a member of a cross-party Commons select committee which today produced a report slating new Government proposals to control danger dogs as “woefully inadequate” and “belated”.
Mr Eustice said: “London is seeing an epidemic of illegal fights and other problems caused by these status dogs.
“Around the country there has been a huge increase in attacks on guide dogs. If we want to solve these problems we need to address their root causes.”
The committee called for a new law to make attacking guide dog an aggravated offence. It said back-street breeders should be licensed by councils if they sell two or more litters a year.
Ministers proposed compulsory dog microchipping last week and a law that means owners can be prosecuted if their dog attacks an individual on their own private property.
But the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said this would fail to tackle the key cause of the surge in attacks.
Conservative MP Anne McIntosh, who chairs the committee, said: “Since 2007 dogs have killed seven people, including five children, in private homes. The NHS also spends over £3 million annually treating dog attack injuries.
“Some eight assistance dogs a month, and thousands of livestock annually, are attacked by dogs.
“More than 100,000 strays are found each year. Incidences of cruelty and neglect are rising and many dogs are out of control due to the irresponsible or deliberate actions of a minority of owners.”
A Defra spokesman said: “Giving the police extra powers to investigate dog attacks on private property means we can protect those who have to go into people’s homes to do their job. Irresponsible dog owners can also be held to account for attacks, regardless of where they take place.”
