More than 200 dog owners have been prosecuted in Merseyside over dog attacks in the last five years.
In cases where a dog is considered “dangerously out of control” - which could be if it makes someone fear it might attack them - courts can make an order to control or even destroy the dog to protect the public.
If an out-of-control dog actually does attack and injure someone, that is considered an aggravating factor, and the owner could be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison - as well as making it more likely that the dog will be destroyed.
