This is a pretty horrific BBC report about a Welsh Housing officer who was bitten in the face for no reason by a tenant's dog. I had meant last week to post on the Post office Union CWU campaign to change the law to make dog owners responsible for attacks on private property.Personally I think that there is no such thing as a bad dog – only bad owners. Who should be brought to account for their failure to train or control their dogs.
Another thing I ought to do is to check our caretaking and visiting officers risk assessments.
Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said: "Most dog owners are responsible but dangerous dogs need to be brought under stricter legal control. It is appalling that district nurses, utility workers home care and social workers among others, run the risk of being attacked by these animals when visiting clients at home. Dog attacks can result in serious debilitation and disfiguring injuries and can also be the cause of high levels of stress.
"It is time to update the Dangerous Dog Act so the law applies everywhere, including private property which is where so many workers get bitten. This would lead to better protection for our members and more rigorous enforcement of the law."
BBC report "A housing officer who needed 30 stitches in her face after being bitten by a Staffordshire bull terrier has spoken about her ordeal. The 47-year-old woman, who works for Bron Afon Community Housing in Torfaen, was attacked while standing on a tenant's doorstep in Blaenavon. She has since returned to work after being off for five weeks.
The owner was banned from having dogs at the property for 12 months but the dog was not put down. The victim, who does not want to be named, said: "I was just carrying out my work as a housing officer and had called at the property - I had been there many times before.
Anybody who went to the door that day would've been bitten "Because she knew me, she opened the door wider and the dog just shot out. I didn't really know at first that the dog had bitten me. "I felt my mouth and my lip was hanging - there was blood everywhere. I was in a bit of a shock really." She required 30 stitches to her mouth which has left scars which she hopes will fade in time.
She said that although she was a dog lover, she now felt "more wary" around them. "I've never had a fear of dogs in my life before but I would definitely think twice now about going in a garden or something if they were there," she said".
UPDATE The South Wales Argus reports here that the moronic owner of this dog wants it back in the same house! Bron Afon Community Housing will find it difficult to get injunctions forever. But how can they possibly allow any of their staff to visit this property if the dog is returned (never mind the fact that this poor dog is still liable to attack anyone who calls at its present address). What about kids who would climb into the garden to get their football?
This whole situation is a farce and the law must be changed to protect all of us going about our lawful duties. A Dangerous Dog is a dangerous dog and must be treated as such whether on private or public land.
