Dangerous dogs taken off the streets
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
15/07/2008
Four dangerous dogs have been taken off the streets of Hammersmith and Fulham in the borough’s first joint seizure operation.
Police seized the suspected Pit Bull Terrier type dogs from three addresses in the borough last Thursday (July 10) as part of Operation Bark – Borough Action for Responsible K9s. Ten police officers, four police dog handlers and an officer from the council’s environment team were on hand to seize the dogs which could fall under the banned types in Britain under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The raids were carried out at Pelham House in Mornington Avenue, Douglas Johnstone House on the Clem Atlee Estate and Lancaster Court in Darlan Road following complaints from the public and concerns from the RSPCA that some were being mistreated or used in dog fighting.
Operation Bark is a venture between the council, police, the RSPCA and the Mayhew Animal Home launched earlier this year in a bid to clamp down on residents who own illegal and potentially lethal dogs and those who mistreat their pets.
Partnership Inspector Paul Bambro said: “Last week’s seizure was a great success and was the climax of months of hard work from everyone involved in Operation Bark.
“The majority of dog owners in the borough are responsible but unfortunately there are some who think it is perfectly acceptable to keep an animal that is dangerous and could seriously injure someone.”
As part of the scheme, officers from the police, council and RSPCA make monthly patrols in areas where there are suspected problems, to identify dogs which could fall under the banned breeds and discuss issues surrounding irresponsible dog ownership with residents they meet.
Suspected dangerous animals can be seized by the police and taken to kennels, until the expert dog handlers decide if they are dangerous and fall under one of the four banned breeds in Britain: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro. The case can also come before a magistrates’ court, which can order that the dog be micro chipped, wear a muzzle or that only someone over the age of 16 can walk the dog. In extreme cases the animal could be destroyed. The maximum penalty for owning a banned dog is a fine of £5,000 and six months in prison.
Hammersmith & Fulham’s cabinet member for crime and anti-social behaviour, Councillor Greg Smith, said: “The message is clear to people who think they can get away with not only breaking the law but also in many cases intimidating their neighbours. We will not tolerate dogs being mistreated and used as weapons against residents or other dogs in organised fights.
"When mistreated and trained badly, these breeds can be extremely dangerous – they can cause horrific injuries, maiming people and even killing children, as we have seen in the news. Using them as status symbols is not big and it is certainly not clever.”
In June, a 14-year-old boy was convicted of assault and two offences under the Dangerous Dog Act, after he set one of his Pit Bull Terriers on a schoolboy in Shepherds Bush in front of teachers, children and police community support officers.
One of the PCSOs intervened in the attack in November last year and was bitten. After the youth fled he was cornered in Lilac Street and arrested with the help of a police dog unit, but only after a 30-minute stand-off when he threatened to set his dogs on the officers. He was banned from taking dogs out in public until he is 18-years-old.
To report any cases of dangerous dogs, please email environmentalprotection@lbhf.gov.uk or telephone 020 8753 1081.
