More than 200 Canberrans have signed an online petition calling for legislative reforms to dangerous dog laws, in the wake of 155 dog attacks last year.
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The petition, created on change.org by resident Renee Dean, had attracted 242 signatures by late Friday afternoon, calling on the Legislative Assembly to "clearly define on what grounds a dangerous dog should be put down and the ramifications for an owner of a dangerous dog after an attack".
It follows the Opposition drafting reforms to dangerous dog laws and the government rejecting a Canberra family's four-year battle for an "ex gratia" payment of $200,000 after a young boy was savaged by dogs seven years ago.
The petition said that the city's current methods of managing dangerous dogs was "ineffective" and definitions in the legislation should not be breed-specific, but define such dogs as "those that have attacked a person or other animal, causing physical injury or death".
The petition noted the 84 people presenting to emergency departments in the ACT with dog attack injuries in 2015 and the 155 such presentations in 2016.
It also said that while victims of dog attacks were "left to pick up the financial, physical and emotional damage with little or no assistance from the government" the dogs were often "merely licensed, given back to their owners and let out into the Canberra community once again".
Canberra Liberals' urban services spokesman Steve Doszpot on Friday urged all Canberrans to sign the petition, saying that it was clear the government "needs to act immediately to crack down on dangerous dogs and irresponsible dog owners".
"The number of attacks on humans is actually larger [than official figures] and there is also a large number of attacks on animals," he said.
"Clearly, people in our suburbs are worried and have created this petition to urge the ACT Government to introduce stronger laws to deal with dangerous dogs."
The Opposition is drafting amendments to the laws and City Services Minister Meegan Fitzharris has left open the door to potential changes or higher fines for dog owners who breach ownership conditions.
