HC Deb 13 July 1950 vol 477 cc119-20W
83. Mr. Bossom

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that when the owner of a dog that has worried sheep transfers the ownership to someone else, neither the original owner nor the new owner are liable to punishment; and if he will take steps to end this anomaly.

Mr. Ede

Where a dog has done injury to cattle or sheep, the owner of the dog at the time of the injury is liable under Section 1 of the Dogs Act, 1906, for damages but not to any other penalty. Section 2 of the Dogs Act, 1871, empowers a court of summary; jurisdiction on receiving a complaint that a dog is dangerous and not kept under proper control to make an order requiring the dog to be kept by the owner under proper control or destroyed. I am advised that no such order can be made where the ownership of the dog has been transferred to someone else before the complaint is made, but I cannot hold out any hope of legislation being introduced to alter this position.