Keep your dogs under control

Monklands dog owners are being reminded they have a “legal responsibility” to ensure their canines are kept under proper control.

Any dog, regardless of breed or size, can cause fear, apprehension, and alarm if its behaviour is out of control.

Latest data from Public Health Scotland shows 875 people were admitted to hospital in the country during a one-year period after being injured by dogs.

A new Scottish Government and SSPCA campaign has been launched to encourage responsible dog ownership.

It urges people to report out of control dogs, in order to reduce the risk of incident and help prevent dogs becoming dangerous and hurting others.

Minister for Community Safety Ash Denham said: “The Scottish Government is determined to help keep Scotland’s communities safe from irresponsible dog owners and their out-of-control pets.

“Any dog attack is one too many and I urge anyone who sees a dog behaving in a potentially dangerous or out of control manner to report the matter to their local council for consideration and investigation.

“The law will be enforced when people report out of control dogs and it is the responsibility of all dog owners to help prevent their animals hurting others.”

SSPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn added: “If your dog is behaving aggressively, and this is out of character, get them checked by your vet to ensure there isn’t an underlying issue causing the dog to act this way.

“If there is no health issue, consult an experienced behaviourist or trainer for advice. We’d always recommend keeping your dog on a lead if it has shown aggression to people or other animals.”

To find out more about the camopaign, visit mygov.scot