LTB Dangerous Dogs - ITV 2-Part Documentary:

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Letter to Branches




No. 179/14
Ref P18/14
Date: 20 March 2014


To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Dangerous Dogs - ITV 2-Part Documentary:

Tonight, 20 Mar 2014, 9.00pm - 10.00pm, ITV will televise episode 1 of a two part documentary on dangerous dogs in the UK which Branch officials may find of interest.
 
The documentary takes a graphic look at the rise in the number of dog attacks and the devastating consequences. The two part documentary looks behind the ‘devil dog headlines’ at whether the root cause of Britain’s dangerous dog problem is irresponsible owners. The film follows dog wardens on the front line dealing with dangerous dogs. They talk candidly about the horrific cases they encounter. 
 
In Episode one:- Award winning documentary makers, 'Wild Pictures', produced these hard-hitting programmes which explore why dog attacks are dramatically on the increase. During the making of the series three people in the UK were killed by dogs and more than 6,000 people were hospitalised after dog attacks last year.
 
Rescue centres are overrun with unwanted dogs. In 2012 the RSPCA secured 4,000 convictions against dog owners for Welfare Offences.  There are underfed, abandoned and un-socialised dogs in homes across the country and yet Britain is apparently a nation of dog lovers. The programmes explore what constitutes a dangerous dog and, importantly, what creates one.
 
The Dangerous Dogs Act was rushed through Parliament 23 years ago after a spate of horrific attacks. Actress Susanne Jones narrates this two-part documentary series, which looks behind the ‘devil dog’ headlines at whether the root cause of Britain’s dangerous dog problem is irresponsible owners. 
 
The film follows dog wardens on the front line dealing with dangerous dogs. They speak candidly about the horrific cases they encounter. Kelly Evans, a dog warden for Birmingham City Council for seven years, talks of her terror of being attacked by a
Staffordshire Bull-Terrier she’d been told was not aggressive.
 
Kelly, who used to work for the RSPCA and has two large rescue dogs of her own, is still haunted by the attack which took place two years ago. In the first programme we see how Kelly and her fellow dog wardens are confronted with potentially dangerous dogs and abusive owners.

Yours Sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer