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A year after the death of Jack Lis, who died after being attacked by a dog in Caerphilly, the area MP has vowed to continue to campaign for better laws against dangerous dogs and owners.
Jack Lis was 10 years old when he was mauled by a dog at a house in Penyrheol, Caerphilly on November 8 last year. He later died from his injuries.
Caerphilly MP Wayne David said it was “a terrible shame” that the laws had not been changed to prevent further tragedy.
The tragedy rocked the Caerphilly community and prompted a re-examination of Britain’s dangerous dog laws.
But a year later, Mr David said any progress in Parliament had ground to a halt amid the turmoil of recent months in Westminster, which has seen three Prime Ministers.
“Following Jack’s death, I called an adjournment debate in the House of Commons over Jack’s death and the inadequacy of the Dangerous Dogs Act,” Mr David said argus. “There was an encouraging response from the minister at the time, but little has happened since.
“The Government continues to examine scientific and professional opinion on the issue of dangerous dogs.
“But political instability within the government has contributed to their inability to come up with proposals for legislative changes.
“It’s a terrible shame because I think a consensus is emerging about how the whole way we deal with dangerous dogs and dogs in general should be changed.”
Two people were imprisoned after Jack’s death.
Brandon Hayden, 19, and Amy Salter, 28, had both pleaded guilty to their part in the tragedy.
Hayden had admitted to being the owner of a dog that got dangerously out of control and caused injuries resulting in death.
Salter, of Llanfabon Drive, Trethomas, pleaded guilty to being responsible for a dog that got dangerously out of control causing injuries resulting in death.
The animal, an American Bully or XL Bully dog breed named Beast, was shot dead by armed police officers after attacking Jack.
UK dangerous dog laws prohibit the ownership and breeding of certain types of dogs. There are currently four dog breeds on the banned list – the pit bull terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro.
But Mr David says the laws should be updated to make it mandatory that all dogs, regardless of breed, be properly trained.
“Most people now accept that it is inappropriate that only four dog breeds are listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act,” he said. “And that doesn’t include the kind of dog that killed Jack.
“Instead, there should not be a list of specific dogs that always have exceptions, but rather a ‘comprehensive’ approach to ensuring ‘all’ dogs are properly trained.
“It would be up to the owners to ensure that all dogs pose no threat.
“I will keep fighting until the law is changed.”
