Cichon v DPP [1994] Crim LR 918 Divisional Court

A dog owner removed the muzzle from his pit bull terrier whilst in public as the dog was suffering from kennel cough. His conviction for allowing a pit bull terrier to be in a public place without being muzzled under s.1(2)(d) Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was upheld.

Schiemann J:

“The Act does not in terms allow the person in control of the dog to make a value judgment as between what is good for the dog and what is good for the rest of mankind. We have here an absolute prohibition and a breach of that prohibition is to be followed by an order for the dog’s destruction, however blameless the dog and its owner”

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