Petition launched to make dog-on-dog attacks a criminal offence

A petition calling for dog-on-dog attacks to become a specific criminal offence has been launched after another dog was killed after in Twickenham, south-west London, last week.

The small Chihuahua called Yoda was killed at Crane Park reportedly by an American XL Bully that was with someone described as a professional dog walker.

The petition, which has been signed by more than 11,000 people, notes that currently dogs attacking other pets is not considered an offence, unless the dog is deemed to be out of control.

It states: “We are concerned that this has been exacerbated by a lack of knowledge of owners about the heritage of their dogs and needs for training.

“People’s pets are being hurt or killed and we believe the government needs to change the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in order to make dogs attacking other pets a specific offence. If a dog attacked a flock of sheep or chickens the owner would be guilty of an offence and the dog could be put down, but if a dog attacks and kills a pet, and isn’t judged to be out of control this wouldn’t be an offence.”