Minister Seeks Clear Legal Definition of 'Dangerous Dog'

Jersey Minister Faces Delays in Defining ‘Dangerous Dog’ in Law Overhaul

Efforts to modernise Jersey’s outdated dog laws are facing delays, as the island’s environment minister admits progress on legally defining a “dangerous dog” is taking longer than anticipated.

Deputy Steve Luce, who is leading the reform of the Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961, said he remains concerned about the potential for serious incidents involving aggressive dogs while the legislation remains unchanged.

“Every day that goes by I am increasingly concerned that something might happen,” Luce told a scrutiny panel. “We do have some animals which we would like to designate as dangerous dogs on this island. That number is not reducing. We have introduced some measures.”

The current law, in place since 1961, regulates dog ownership on the island, including licensing and public identification requirements. However, experts have said it no longer meets the needs of today’s environment.

Calls for reform have intensified in the wake of the UK’s ban on XL bully dogs, introduced in March following a series of fatal attacks. Though Jersey is not directly bound by UK law, concerns over imported rescue animals and increased pet ownership during the pandemic have heightened the urgency.

Chief vet at the JSPCA, Susana Ramos, said that preventing the importation of high-risk dogs would be a key step in reducing potential danger. “The current law is old and not fit for purpose anymore,” she said. “The idea of the new law is to allow us to act. It will give us a little substance to do better than we currently do.”

Deputy Luce also noted a spike in dog ownership a decade ago due to imported rescue animals, with a further surge during COVID-19 lockdowns.

As the island awaits the introduction of new legislation, both officials and animal welfare advocates agree that clearer definitions and updated enforcement powers are essential to keeping the public and animals safe.