The family of a teenage girl who was mauled to death by four dogs at a friend's sleepover are still fighting for change.
Mike and Shirley Anderson’s 14-year-old daughter, Jade Lomas-Anderson, was mauled to death by two bull mastiffs and two bull terriers at a friend’s house in Wigan in 2013 after going there for a sleepover. They told of their disgust at having three requests to meet DEFRA Secretary Therese Coffey ignored over the past two months in a bid to stop more tragedies.
Jade’s parents have called for previous legislation – achieved after they lobbied the Government – to be ripped up. Mike said the fault for two deaths since his first call for action last month lies squarely at the Government’s door, MirrorOnline reports.
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Mike said: “We lost Jade and we can’t sit back and do nothing. But the Government are doing just that – nothing. My message to Ms Coffey and her team is, ‘I hope you’re sleeping well because we, the victims’ families, aren’t’.
“We want to join the Mirror and victims to achieve meaningful change from the Government. Things are at breaking point. We want justice for families.”
In Jade’s case, the dogs’ owner Beverly Concannon had kept them cooped up in cages. She received a 16-week suspended sentence and was banned from keeping dogs indefinitely. In 2014, after meeting former DEFRA head Lord De Mauley, Mike and Shirley managed to get new legislation set up in Jade’s name, meaning it was an offence to have a dangerous dog in a private property as well as in public.
"But they have urged more now needs to be done. Recent statistics show the number of dangerous dog attacks has grown by a third in five years.
Mike said: “Every time we see a case it takes us back to the pain we suffered. How are people still going through this?”
Shirley said of hearing nothing from DEFRA: “Surely we should have a say in the law we helped campaign for? They need to show they care. It’s insulting to Jade’s legacy.”
Downing Street yesterday failed to make any firm commitments to tackling dangerous dogs after the Mirror highlighted a spate of brutal killings. Rishi Sunak’s spokesman admitted “dog attacks can lead to tragic consequences”, acknowledging the recent “horrific cases”.
But he only said a review was ongoing into regulations for licensed dog breeders and pet sellers before any decision would be made on tightening current laws.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “There have been some horrific cases and our thoughts and sympathies are with those that have been affected. We know dog attacks can lead to tragic consequences. It’s why we have a number of measures in place to protect people.
"There is the Dangerous Dogs Act which puts people in prison or disqualifies them from ownership if they let their dogs get dangerously out of control. Breeding and selling dogs as pets without a licence carries a penalty of an unlimited fine or six months in prison and we’re also currently reviewing the regulations for licensed dog breeders and pet sellers to look at whether any changes need to be made to tighten up the current conditions.
“And finally, we’ve set up a working group with the police, local authority groups and animal welfare experts to look at ways to take forward measures on reducing dog attacks and to promote responsible dog ownership.”
The Mirror is calling for the overhaul of the Dangerous Dogs Act and for the enforcement of rules to stop the illegal and irresponsible breeding and selling of dogs.
It also wants a public information campaign to promote the importance of responsible dog ownership and the need for training.
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