Closed petition Dogs under S1 DDA should automatically be entitled to interim exemption

Closed on 22 June 2018

The Dangerous Dogs Act (s1) prohibits ownership of certain dogs. Any dog suspected to be a banned breed it is likely to be seized by the police and kept in a police kennel. If the court finds the dog is a banned breed but it is not deemed a danger, it may be exempted (subject to restrictions).

The police have the power to issue an interim exemption pending the courts decision. However, this is entirely at their discretion and how this is dealt with varies between forces. Where a dog is only being pursued as a result of how they look, this interim exemption should be automatic (where the restrictions can be put in place and adhered to). Spending long periods in kennels can detrimental to the welfare of a dog and the owner.