DOG owners have welcomed new laws which will see people jailed for up to two years if their animals attack in a public place.

The tougher sentencing regime was revealed yesterday after a number of recent high profile incidents of dog attacks – including one on Southend seafront.

In that case, Rowan Diedrick, 29, from North London, was jailed for 16 months, banned from keeping a dog for ten years and had his Rottweiler destroyed after it savaged a seven-year boy on a Southend beach last year.

Under the new guidelines owners, or anyone in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog, would face up to 18 months in jail, with the sentence rising to the legal maximum of two years.

The most serious cases could include incidents where a dangerously out-of-control dog has caused serious injury during a sustained attack, injured a child, or where the owner has failed to respond to previous warnings or concerns. Any deliberate goading of the dog by its owner would also be seen as an aggravating factor by judges.

Melanie Corstorphine, 52, of Grand Parade, Leigh , whose dog Teddy was attacked in June by a staffie-type stray said: “Any change is for the better but its the ownership of these breeds that needs to be addressed.”

South Essex has seen a string of recent dog attacks and local councils, who often pick up the pieces after an attack or try to find a dog a new home, said they supported the proposals.

Richard Moore, Basildon councillor responsible for animal control, said: “There are a minority of people who put others at risk by not training or controlling their dog responsibly. These new guidelines will help ensure courts use their full powers when dealing with offenders and I hope it will make irresponsible dog owners think twice before using their dog as a weapon.”

Carl Robinson, Southend Council’s group manager for regulatory services, added: “There are issues with people failing to control their dogs properly and using them  as status symbols.

“We support these new sentencing guidelines. Any measures which promote tougher penalties for irresponsible dog ownership, are welcomed.”

The owner of a rottweiler which attacked and killed another dog in Hockley has finally been found and issued with a police caution.

The unnamed woman from Rayleigh reclaimed the dog after four weeks and admited an offence of having a dangerous dog. The animal had attacked a 12-year-old Jack Russell-Chihuahua cross called Cherry, in Hockley, on June 2.

Family’s dog dies after being attacked by staffie

A FAMILY dog died after it was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier that burst in off the street.

Stacey Tomkins, 30, of Maylons, Pitsea , said she was just about to go out on Friday and had left her front door open when the dog burst into her dining room and attacked her six-year-old white West Highland terrier Rosie.

She said: “Rosie was in the mouth of the dog before I could intervene. The Staff shook her really hard. She managed to escape and ran out the front door into the car park. The Staff chased her and again got her in its mouth and shook her. We took her to the vets where she had to be put to sleep.

“It was awful, there was blood all over my house and her sister Maisey has not been out since it happened. I have tried to take her for walks, but she is too scared. My children are really shaken up over the whole thing.”

Rosie suffered seven puncture wounds to her body, a fracture to her back and a torn ear.

A spokesman for the PDSA vet in Basildon said: “Sadly she was put to sleep because of her injuries.”