Welcome to the DogLine UK / SafePets Blog

Welcome old and new customers, friends and colleagues.  In this blog, Debbie  Connolly, our founder, will chat, pass on comments and  stories and the rest of us staff and helpers will tell you all about our work and what we can do to help you.

Please visit our website for full information on DogLine UK CLICK HERE  

From our East Midlands base we help people with cat and dog behaviour problems and bite incidents UK wide 

Debbie Connolly is also an expert witness and gives evidence in court after assessing dogs involved in bite incidents. Initial free advice is available just contact us.

See our dedicated “My Dog Has Bitten” website HERE   

Follow @Debbie_Connolly  follow us on Twitter or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mydoghasbitten/

You can now chat to us on Skype too safepetsuk or

South East number 0208 1445799

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                     You can email us on dogexpert@outlook.com

XL Bully Description and Definition

The Government has now released their definition of an XL Bully.  This has caused fear and confusion due to its highly subjective list of points. I do not know who they asked and how they got this written but I doubt they asked any experts who actually go to court to argue the definitions on other banned breeds.

Compensating Victims of Dog Bites

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The XL Bully crisis

The press are currently endlessly headlining with the need to add the XL Bully to the Dangerous Dogs Act due to the numerous deaths attributed to this type of dog.  Is this realistic or practical? I do many TV and radio interviews but lately there seem to be a lot of people interviewed with no clue about the law.

UPDATE 16th September 2023 – Rishi Sunak announced ban on XL Bullies. Join my FB page for advice https://www.facebook.com/mydoghasbitten

Bring Back the Dog Licence?

The rise in fatal dog attacks over the last couple of years has resulted in calls to bring back the dog licence. As someone who vaguely remembers it, I don’t recommend it.  It was pointless.

When microchipping dogs became compulsory in 2016 it was hailed by the government as one method to control dangerous dogs and strays.  It has done nothing of the kind.

Fatal Dog Attack, Surrey

There has sadly been another fatal dog attack to start 2023.  The full story is not yet known but it appears the victim was a dog walker with 8 dogs and was attacked by one or more of them.  It has made the public more aware of dog walker employment but the reality is this likely could have been anyone.

See my ITV Good Morning Britain Interview  HERE

Rehoming or Adopting a Dog

It seems in 2022 that far more people are needing to rehome their dogs. There are risks involved in both selling your dog or finding a home, or not realising the rescue you use is not reputable. A new dog wherever it came from needs time to settle and to feel secure.

NO DOGS SHOULD BE PASSED OVER AT SERVICES, PARKS OR ANYWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN YOUR/NEW HOME OR KENNELS  Here is some advice.

Why are there so many Fatal dog attacks?

The latest sad fatality caused by dogs is again in Merseyside, this time in Vauxhall.  I am a dog behaviourist and an expert witness, assessing dogs for court in bite incidents.  The number of fatal dog attacks in the last 2 years is terrifying.  Uncounted are the many very serious attacks. Why is this happening?

Fatal Dog Attack St Helens, Merseyside

The latest sad tragic news story of a baby killed by a dog is the second such fatality this year. In the last 12 months this is the second fatal attack on a child by a dog recently bought by the family. What should you be looking at if you buy or adopt a dog?

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-03-21/17-month-old-girl-dies-after-being-attacked-by-dog-in-st-helens  

Dog on Dog attacks

Dog on dog attacks seem to be a frequent and growing problem.  Dogs injured and even killed by loose dogs.  Terrible and traumatic things to see that devastate families.

It seems that little can be done, it is a civil matter in most cases and Police will not get involved. There are routes that can be taken though. 

Fatal Dog Attacks – Why Do They Happen?

So far in 2021 there have been 2 people killed by dogs.  One was a dog someone took in with a bit of an unknown history that went upstairs to the young woman and fatally injured her.  2 days ago, Good Friday, an 85 year old lady was killed in her own garden by her next-door neighbour’s 2 dogs.  It seems they got through a hole or weak fence point and attacked her in her own garden.  Horrible, tragic and unnecessary.  There will likely be more, why is this still happening?