Learn Newsdesk

PSHE and citizenship

09 March 2010


Activity page

Dangerous dogs clampdown

HyperLink


Secondary activity

Dangerous dog laws

The Dangerous Dog Act was passed in 1991. First take a look at the Act in Find out more and then re-read today's news story on dangerous dogs.

There have long been calls from the RSPCA and others to update the Dangerous Dog Act so it really can stop dangerous dogs being used as a status symbol.

In small groups talk about the government's new plans. Do you think they go far enough and will make a real difference to the rise in dangerous dogs? For example, do you think they will help protect pet dogs which aren't dangerous and risk being attacked by dangerous dogs?

Is there anything else you would add to the new plans?

Try to come up with three suggestions.

Are dangerous dogs a problem where you live?

Send your thoughts to Have your say  or longer articles/podcasts to Be a reporter.

Dangerous dog

Do the new plans go far enough?

Picture: PA

Find out more

RSPCA website

http://www.rspca.org.uk/home

Dangerous dogs act

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/ac

Rise in dog fighting

http://www.learnnewsdesk.co.uk

Teachers' notes

Secondary lesson objectives

  • to consider the general need for regulation in respect of private behaviour
  • to raise some issues for critical examination, consider the different roles of the law, and evaluate different approaches to dealing with particular issues
  •  that certain areas of public life are regulated by local authorities, under powers devolved from central government

Secondary curriculum links

Citizenship at key stage 3    (Year 7-9)
Unit 05: How the law protects animals - a local-to-global study
Section 1: How does the law protect our pets?

Glossary

Compensation money paid to try and cover expenses of a wrong done to someone, such as being attacked by someone's dog

Extended made to go further

Fundamental basic

Home secretary politician in charge of issues within the UK, eg crime

Insurance policies when you pay a company a fairly small amount of money in case an accident happens - if it doesn't happen the insurance company just keeps the money, if it does happen they have to pay your expenses

Intimidate frighten

Microchipped when a microchip the size of a grain of rice with a code number on it is injected under the dog's skin

Neuter remove the reproductive organs of a dog so they can't have babies - in males this makes dogs less aggressive

Sole only

Status dogs tough looking dogs such as bull breeds being owned by people who want to look tough

Third party covering someone else as well as the person insured. For example if someone ese gets attacked by your dog the insurance company will need to pay for their treatment etc

Unique one of a kind

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