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In My Opinion: 'Dog owners should take a competency test'
According to NHS figures published in 2021, there has been a significant rise in the number of hospital admissions after bites or attacks by dogs, from 4,699 in 2007/8 to 7,443 in 2020/21.
Journalist Andrea Epstein says there should be an annually renewable dog licence and a test around animal welfare and general competence for owners, which can be assessed by experts.
She told 5 Live Breakfast, she thinks the test should be seen as 鈥減roof of validation of how good they are at looking after their pets鈥�.
鈥淯rgent action is needed to encourage responsible dog ownership,鈥� adds Angela. 鈥淲e need to encourage people who want a dog that this isn鈥檛 an impulse purchase.鈥�
This clip is originally from 5 Live Breakfast on Tuesday 31 May 2022.
