People in Bradford have bitten back by pledging their support to the Telegraph & Argus Curb the Danger Dogs campaign.

The campaign was launched following a spate of attacks in the Bradford district that highlighted the need for the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to be toughened up.

The Act was introduced following the attack on Rukhsana Khan 15 years ago that shocked the nation.

Rukhsana, now 21, was left scarred for life after she was savaged by a pitbull terrier.

She bravely spoke about her ordeal for the first time to the T&A last month when she gave her backing to the campaign.

The T&A believes that the Act has not done enough to prevent attacks by dangerous dogs, particularly in the light of recent attacks where a young baby was mauled to death and another seriously injured by dangerous dogs not covered by the legislation.

Now hundreds of people have signed the T&A's petition, adding their support and calling on the Government to implement the following changes in the law: l a compulsory registration scheme for all dogs to help establish a register for dangerous dogs and enable them to be monitored l permanent compulsory micro-chipping of all dogs l anyone convicted of owning a dangerous dog should have a lifetime ban on owning a dog l the setting-up of an accurate register of owners and their dogs l the introduction of a fixed penalty notice for those who allow their dogs to stray.

Pledges of support for the campaign have been received from as far away as America and Canada and across the UK.

Yesterday visitors to the Bradford Royal Infirmary pledged their support by signing copies of the petition. Among them, Jenny Weetch, of Clayton, said: "What I do not want to see is a knee-jerk reaction from the Government when one or two badly brought-up dogs do some damage to a person and the whole community has to pay."

Petitions are available from the T&A offices in Hall Ings, Bradford and Kirkgate, Shipley.

They are also available at the offices of the Keighley News, North Street, Keighley, the Craven Herald, High Street, Skipton and the Ilkley Gazette and Wharfedale Observer, Wells Road, Ilkley.

A T&A promotions team will also be at Booths in Ilkley with copies of the petition tomorrow.

People can also voice their support on line at the T&A website at www.thetelegraph andargus.co.uk.

e-mail: jennifer.sugden@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

WHAT YOU SAY

Jason Harper, 19, of East Bowling: "I fully support the T&A campaign and will be signing the petition. I love dogs but action needs to be taken to protect people from dangerous ones."

Edward Bradbury, 79, of Heaton: "I fully support the T&A campaign. Dangerous breeds should be banned from being bred. Why would people want to own aggressive dogs anyway?"

Mary Ramsay, 75, of Eccleshill: "I think that breeds of dogs that have been proved to have an aggressive nature should be banned from being bred in this country."

Patricia Laing, 56, of Guiseley: "I used to own a dog but when my twins were born the dog became aggressive to them and had to be re-homed. Stricter controls should be implemented."

Scott Haines, 22, of East Bowling: "The attacks on children demonstrate the need for the law to be changed. Owners should muzzle their dogs in public if they display aggressive behaviour."

Louise Mallinson, 33, of Wibsey: "The reports on the news recently definitely high- light the need for stricter laws. I am glad the Telegraph & Argus is taking action."

HOW YOU CAN SIGN OUR PETITION

You can back our Curb the Danger Dogs Campaign by signing our petition, which will be submitted to the Home Secretary, John Reid.

We want to collect as many signatures as possible in the next month to show Mr Reid the strength of feeling in the district about the inadequacies of the Dangerous Dogs Act and to put pressure on him to better protect the public against dog attacks by acting on the changes to the law we have outlined on the petition.

You can support our campaign simply by adding your own name on the petition online at our publi-cation's website www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk. Or you can print out the petition and ask family, friends and colleagues to sign as well. The more signatures we receive, the stronger our message.

But whatever you can do will add weight to our campaign and help to make it clear to Mr Reid the strength of public feeling regarding the desperate need to change the current law.

Remember, you need to return copies of the petition to the T&A (the address is at the foot of the form) by Thursday, October 12.

We will then submit all the forms we receive to the Home Office.

  • Click here to sign the petition on-line

  • Or click here to download a copy of the petition to print out