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Last Updated: Friday, 30 January, 2004, 10:20 GMT
Midlands: Dangerous dogs

Sarah Chaundler
Politics Show Midlands


Coming up

Millions of people use a mobile phone, but despite the reassurance from scientists there are still fears about the technology that makes them work.

Villagers at Wishaw in Warwickshire were delighted when the mast which had dominated the local skyline for a decade came down after damage from vandals.

Now their local MP, Andrew Mitchell has taken up the campaign.

But what do you think. Are you reassured by the scientists?

Would you be happy to live next to a mobile phone mast?

Text us on 07764 630 630
or e-mail
Have your say

Politics Show Midlands will debate the issue on the programme on Sunday 8 February 2004.


Protection against dangerous dogs. Does the Dangerous Dogs Act work?

Nicki Hughes
Nicki Hughes bears the scars of an horrendous dog attack

12-year-old Nicki Hughes from Dudley still bears the scars of an horrendous dog attack nearly two years ago.

She was playing with a friend Rosanna outside her front door in Wolverhampton when a neighbour's Rottweiler ran at her and knocked her to the ground.

"At first it was licking me" says Nicki, "but then it turned vicious. I can't remember if it bit into my arm or face first".

Nicki was rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital to have her wounds cleaned and stitched up.

Under a general anaesthetic she underwent plastic surgery.

Every week three of four children are treated at the Children's Hospital after being bitten by a dog.

It is estimated more than 1000 people are admitted to accident and emergency departments across the Midlands.

People treated in hospital for dog bites
Jan - Dec 2003
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust 382
"Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham" 476
Birmingham Heartlands & Solihull NHS Trust 552
April 2003 - Nov 2003
University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust 382
April 2002 - Mar 2003
Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust 363


Nicki's father Alan still feels guilty that he wasn't there to protect his daughter.

He says he could not believe what he was seeing.

I didn't think a dog could do so much damage. There were pieces of flesh hanging off her arm.

Birmingham City Council Dog Warden Vicky Alwood
Every year her team picks up 750 stray dogs

More than anything he would like to see a change in the Dangerous Dogs Act to force owners to be more responsible for their dogs.

His sentiments are shared by Birmingham City Council Dog Warden Vicky Alwood.

Every year her team picks up 750 stray dogs.

She believes a third of them have the potential to be harmful to the public.

Owners don't realise that when they're dogs are allowed to stray, they may behave in a different way to when they're at home.

Let us not forget that dogs are animals and governed by animal instincts. Any type of dog has the potential to bite.

The larger the dog, generally speaking the worse the injuries they can inflict.

Dangerous Dogs

The Dangerous Dogs Act was brought in after a spate of attacks on young children by pit bull terriers in the late 1980s and early 90's.

The Act made it an offence to own or keep a Pit Bull, unless registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs.

The Act also made it an offence for owners of any breed to allow their dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place.

But Vicky Alwood believes the Act does not go far enough.

She wants local authorities to have the power to prosecute owners who's dogs stray, and therefore could present a danger to the public.

Politics Show Midlands joins Vicky as she picks up stray dogs across Birmingham, and following her as she discovers that banned American Pit Bull Terriers could be for sale in the city.

Have your say

Let us know what you think. That is the Politics Show Sunday 01 February at Midday.

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SEE ALSO:
Meet presenter Adrian Goldberg
02 Mar 03  |  Politics Show
Girl savaged in new dog attack
27 May 02  |  England


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