Dog death: mother praises sister... Play video

Tough new measures aimed at tackling dangerous dogs are to be introduced at Holyrood in the wake of the mauling of a 13-month-old boy by a family rottweiler.

Alex Neil, the SNP MSP, will publish a private member's bill that could see dogs of all breeds tagged or destroyed if they are thought to present a danger to the public.

The move has won the support of the Scottish Government, with Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill indicating ministers will give the draft legislation a fair wind when it is introduced in the autumn.

Mr Neil has been working on his proposals for some months, but the death of Archie-Lee Andrew Hirst in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on Friday afternoon has led to renewed calls for tougher sanctions on dangerous dogs.

The youngster was being carried from the kitchen of his grandparents' house by his seven-year-old aunt when a family pet dog snatched him from her arms.

The young boy's mother Becki, who turned 18 yesterday, paid tribute to her 16-year-old sister, who she said was a hero for attempting to save Archie-Lee from the rottweiler's jaws. She said: "I'd like to say to Kara we are all so proud of her - she tried. She's a hero in my eyes and will be respected for what she did for the rest of her life."

Mr Neil said the number of people being treated for dog bites in Scotland's hospitals had almost doubled in the past 10 years, which proved that the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act did not go far enough.

At the moment, police can intervene only if a dog is out of control in a public place or on someone else's property, but Mr Neil said he wanted to close that loophole so that action can be taken against an animal in its owner's home.

He said his bill would also introduce control orders so that a dog acting dangerously would be micro-chipped so its owner could be easily traced.

The 1991 Act also lists four types of dog that it is illegal to breed or own, but Mr Neil said his bill would cover all breeds.

‘The emphasis is moving from breed to deed and to preventing tragedy’

"The emphasis is moving from breed to deed and to prevention rather than waiting for something tragic to occur," he said.

The MSP pointed to the death earlier this year of five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson in St Helens, Merseyside, who was killed by her uncle's banned pit bull terrier as further proof that the current law needs to be tightened.

He added: "Any dog can be dangerous in the wrong circumstances. That's why any dog acting dangerously, anywhere, would come under this legislation.

"Even if they had not bitten anyone, they would be subject to a court order and compulsorily microchipped to help enforce that order."

A working party - including members of the SSPCA, Advocates for Animals and the Kennel Club - has helped Mr Neil to draw up a consultation paper on his plans, which will be launched at the Scottish Parliament on January 15. A draft bill will follow three months later.

Kenny MacAskill said: "The concept has our support and we hope to work with Alex on this. We recognise that action needs to be taken."

Meanwhile, police yesterday conducted house-to-house inquiries near the home where Archie-Lee Andrew Hirst was mauled to death. Police said the two-and-a-half-year-old rottweiler, which has been destroyed, weighed "in the region of seven to 10 stone".

Detective Superintendent Steve Payne, who is leading the investigation, said the family was united in grief.

He added: "The focus of the investigation will now be to conduct house-to-house inquiries and to try to build up a picture of anything that will help the investigation."

The boy's mother yesterday left a message for her baby son on her page on the social networking website Bebo.

She wrote: "RIP my lil angel mummy knows your still here love u alway and foreva xxxx." Friends of the boy's father, Damian Williamson, 20, posted messages on his Bebo page, with one saying: "Archie is a special little boy and will never be forgotten."