Islington Council considers forcing all owners to microchip their pets after fresh dangerous dog fears

Published: 26th November, 2010
by TERRY MESSENGER

ALL dog owners in Islington could be required to micro-chip their pets under a scheme being considered by the borough council as part of a crackdown on illegal ferocious animals.

Town Hall leader Catherine West has reported an alarming increase in the number of illicitly bred dogs “used as weapons”.

She said: “There are particular breeds we are worried about – various types of bull terriers. We are getting more and more feedback about concerns over these dogs used as weapons. 

“There have been incidents of them biting people.”

Cllr West said that dog breeders were allowing illegal breeds, such as pit bulls, to mate with legal Staffordshire bull terriers, thus evading bans on vicious animals introduced in the Dangerous Dogs Act. “The police say that they have more phone calls about it than they used to have and also our housing estate officers report an increase in the problem,” she said.

An extra dog warden is to be employed by the council to facilitate a micro-chipping scheme to identify animals and their owners.

Cllr West explained: “The people who are more likely to have dangerous dogs are the ones who don’t bother to have them chipped.

“Where a dog is not chipped you would know that it was at risk of being used as a dangerous dog.  

“I’d quite like the scheme to be compulsory but we have to look at the cost of that and we’d have to think through enforcement measures.”

She said the extra warden would also help the borough to step up its campaign against dog mess.

Plain clothes “pooper snoopers” have been employed to deter owners allowing their pets to foul the pavement.

Cllr West added: “The number of enforcements on dog mess has gone right down. We’re really sending out the message that it’s not on just to let your dog go wherever.”

The council is spending  extra money despite the current economic climate because dangerous dogs and dog mess were a commonly voiced concern at a recent public meeting to determine the council’s public safety priorities.

Labour councillors were also bitten while canvassing during May’s election campaign, said Cllr West.