The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 bans four types of dogs in the UK:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Braziliero

It is illegal to breed from, sell, abandon or give away a banned dog. The maximum penalty for illegal possession of a banned dog is a fine of £5,000 and/or six months' imprisonment. The legislation also covers dangerous dogs of any breed or cross breed.

Problems can arise when the Police claim your dog has the characteristics of one of these breeds or it is alleged to be cross bred with one. The police have powers under this Act to stop anyone in public with a dog they believe to be one of the banned breeds or have these characteristics or have been crossed with one.

What can happen?

• Your dog is impounded whilst they examine whether your dog is a banned breed or has the characteristics of a banned breed.
• If the dog is a banned breed you can be arrested and taken to a Police Station and questioned in interview for an offence of Possession of a Dangerous Dog.
• If the Police decide merely to impound your dog then after they have looked at the dog you can still be arrested and taken to a Police Station and questioned.

If your dog has been seized in this way or you have been arrested then it is very likely you will have to go to Court.

At Court it will be for your defence to prove that your dog is not a banned type. Once the Police charge you with possession of a controlled dog, the onus is on you to establish otherwise. We have been practising in this area since the legislation came into force.

We have successfully argued these cases: This might be for our clients’ dogs not to be subject to control at all; this might be to save the dog from being put down. Where the Police have proved the breed is a pit-bull type dog, we have been able to persuade Courts to allow them to be Registered and controlled rather than destroyed. There are a number of controls the Court can order including castration, microchipping, muzzling and insurance.

Will my dog be destroyed?

We can help you prove that the dog would not constitute a danger to public safety – this then overcomes the presumption in favour of destruction of the dog. If you do have an unregistered pit bull type dog, or any banned breed then with our help you have a reasonable chance of avoiding a destruction order being made.

We will help you prove to a Court that your dog is not a danger to public safety. With our experience in this field we can help you make your case. We often commission our trusted expert to examine your dog and then give evidence to the Court.

How we can help:

• Negotiate with the Police when an interview can be conducted.
• Represent you in interview.
• Defend you in Court and argue against your dog being put down.
• Help you to appeal against a court ruling to have your dog destroyed.

Often you will need the help of our own expert in dogs. We can arrange for your dog to be examined and often then argue against any control. If necessary our expert can help us to argue what controls Your dog should be subject to:

• Apply for a court order to have your dog added to the Index of Exempted Dogs (IED.)
• Challenge court rulings to have your dog destroyed.