Killer dogs' owners in England and Wales could face life in prison.

[dipsydoodle]

The owners of dogs that attack and kill someone could face life in prison under new proposals for England and Wales.

The current maximum prison sentence for allowing a dog that kills or injures someone to be dangerously out of control is two years.

The government has proposed a number of sentencing options for a fatal dog attack - from seven years to life. But the RSPCA said more needed to be done.

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Under the consultation, jail terms suggested for a dog owner whose animal injures a person or kills an assistance dog, like a guide dog for a visually impaired person, range from three years up to a maximum of 10.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23578561

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Just to clear up one thing - that range is for the *maximum*

The way the BBC words that last paragraph, it sounds as if the minimum could be 3 years. What they mean it that some people have suggested a maximum of 3 years, and others have suggested a maximum of 10. From the consultation document it links to:

However, the point was made in the Parliamentary debate on the amendment that the current level of maximum penalty for an aggravated dog attack of 2 years imprisonment is too low, given the devastating effect that dog attacks can have on peoples’ lives and on assistance dogs. Overall, there is a range of possible maximum sentences between 2 years imprisonment and life that might apply in different circumstances.

In responding to this survey, please note that the Government is considering the maximum sentence for these aggravated offences only. In sentencing, the court will have regards as usual to any mitigating or aggravating factors and it is anticipated that only the most serious of offences would result in a sentence towards the new maximum. Any change would be followed by a review of sentencing guidelines by the Sentencing Guidelines Council.

https://consult.defra.gov.uk/animal-health-and-welfare/dda_dog-attacks_sentences_survey

(Their emphasis)