Dangerous Dogs
Top KC Led Direct Access Dangerous Dogs Offence Barristers – London & UK
We are top KC led public direct access specialist dangerous dogs offence barristers with vast experience and stunning successes.
Our specialist dangerous dogs offence barrister Catherine Daly, has owned and fostered dogs for many years from greyhounds to huskies. She currently owns two Belgian Malinois x Rottweilers. She knows something about living with dogs!
Sadly, she also knows about the sometimes-irreparable damage that bad handling and bad breeding can cause. The rise in dog attacks across the UK is alarming. Catherine feels strongly that this is not due to ‘bad’ or ‘dangerous’ dogs. There was a huge increase in dog ownership and breeding during covid-19 and this means that there are more people breeding dogs and more first-time dog owners. Catherine’s view is that the result is an increased number of poorly bred dogs in the hands of inexperienced owners.
Top KC Led Direct Access Dangerous Dogs Offence Barristers – London & UK

Best KC Led Public Direct Access Dangerous Dogs Offence Barristers | Catherine Daly Best Dog-Related Specialist Lawyer – London & UK
The recent new legislation on XL bully ‘types’ is just one of many new pieces of legislation that dog owners will likely have to grapple with in the coming years.
In a case which involves a dog dangerously out of control, the police/prosecution have a choice between an application by way of a civil complaint under the Dogs Act 1871 (DA 1871) for an order for the control or destruction of a dog, a criminal prosecution under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (DDA 19) or potentially both.
The police can make an application to the magistrates’ court under section 2 of the DA 1871 against the owner of a dog considered to be dangerous for its control or destruction.
TOP-RATED DIRECT ACCESS DANGEROUS DOGS CHARGE BARRISTER | CATHERINE DALY | LONDON & UK
Catherine Daly – Expert Barrister
Catherine appears in the Crown Court, the Magistrates Court, the Court of Appeal, and in front of Parole Boards. She deals with both minor offences, like driving, and serious cases involving violence, sex offences and drugs, and has a string of stunning successes. She often represents clients with vulnerabilities and continues to receive outstanding client feedback.
One of many 5 star Google reviews: “Catherine Daly is an exceptional criminal defence barrister who exemplifies professionalism, expertise, and unwavering dedication. She demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to my case, ensuring every aspect was meticulously examined and skilfully represented. Her profound knowledge of the law, coupled with her strategic insight, led to a successful outcome beyond my expectations. Catherine navigates complex legal proceedings with precision and poise.”
Catherine Daly Expert Dangerous Dogs Offence Lawyer | Best Direct Access Defence Barrister – London & UK
The Dogs Act 1906 (DA 1906) amended the DA 1871 by defining a dog as ‘dangerous’ where it injures cattle, poultry, or chases sheep (s.1(4)). S. 7 of the 1906 Act defines ‘cattle’ as including horses, goats, mules, asses, sheep, and swine’. An order under s.2 DA 1871 can be made whether the dog has injured anyone or not. A civil complaint under s.2 DA 1871 must be proved on the balance of probabilities, a lower standard than the criminal standard of making the Judge/jury ‘sure’.
‘Dangerousness’ is about a dog’s disposition rather than its actions. A dog of any size can be ‘dangerous’, to other animals as well as to humans (Briscoe v Shattock [1998] EWHC Admin 929.) without causing any injury.
A criminal prosecution can be bought under the DDA 1991.
S.1(3) of the DDA 1991 Act makes it an offence to be in possession of any of the following
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Braziliero
‘Type’ has a broader meaning than ‘breed’ which means that the court can find a dog to be one of these ‘types’, even if you believe it is not any of those breeds.
Under s 3(1) of the DDA 1991 (amended by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014) if any dog is dangerously out of control in any place, including all private property, the owner, or person in charge of the dog, is guilty of an offence. That offence becomes an aggravated offence, and triable in the Crown Court, if the dog injures any person or an assistance dog while out of control.
A dog can be dangerously out of control when there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will injure any person or assistance dog, whether it does so or not (s.10(3) DDA 1991). This includes when someone is trying to protect their dog from your dog during an attack.
Leading Specialist Dangerous Dogs Charge Barristers | Top Public Direct Access Defence Lawyers for London & UK
It is important to understand what the prosecution must prove if you end up fighting your case before a jury. The possible consequences are severe. In the worst cases the dog will be destroyed whilst in police custody, and the dog may have already been in police custody for some time. In other cases, the Court can impose strict lifelong conditions such as the dog being muzzled and on a lead in public places.
In an increasingly busy world, all types of situations arise that have the potential to become legally problematic. Do not put your dog at risk. If you need advice or you are facing a dangerous dog charge, please contact us. We can recommend first class dangerous dog experts to assess any dog accused of being a particular ‘type’ or being ‘dangerous.’ We know that when it is your dog, it is not just another statistic, it is a family member, and we will fight for yours as we would our own.
Our Heritage | Michael Wolkind KC (formerly QC)
We are small, elite and hand-picked team. Our proud heritage arises from one of the most renowned master criminal defence barristers of recent times – Michael Wolkind KC (formerly QC).
Contact Us Now | Top KC Led Direct Access Dangerous Dogs Offence Specialist Barrister | Best-In-Class Dog Offence Lawyer Catherine Daly | London & UK
If you or someone you know is has been accused of a dangerous dog offence and are seeking the best possible representation from a KC led specialist barrister who is passionate about dogs from her own experience and has an outstanding track record of success together with a stellar reputation for personal care, contact us now on 07473 053074 or send us a message here.
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