Connarty co-sponsors Bill on Dangerous Dogs

Michael Connarty is today(1/7/09) co-sponsoring a bill in Parliament to help protect Postmen and women, telephone engineers, meter readers, district nurses, utility workers home care and social workers among others, who run the risk of being attacked by dogs when entering people's gardens as part of their job.

Around 6,000 postal workers are attacked by dogs every year with 70 per cent attacked on private property where the Dangerous Dogs Act doesn't apply and the owners are therefore not prosecuted. Workers like Postmen and women cannot therefore be awarded compensation under Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act.

Michael said "this Bill comes to Parliament today to extend the protection for ordinary workers going about their job free from the fear of being attacked. The vast majority of dog owners are responsible people - but it is dangerous dogs that need to be brought under control"