Parliament gives green light to dangerous dog bill

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jun 18, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago parliament has approved legislation resulting in owners of dangerous dogs, such as pitbulls, facing a 10-year jail term and significant fine if the dog kills a person.
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, who piloted the Dog Control Bill, 2013 on Monday, said owners of these dangerous dogs would also have to have an insurance policy of  TT$250,000 (One TT dollar = US$0.16 cents) or higher.
Ramlogan said unlike the Dangerous Dogs bill, which was passed but never proclaimed, the new legislation espouses responsible ownership, rather than the elimination of dangerous dogs. The dogs will also have a microchip installed allowing for tracing of the owners.