THE ECHO's fightback against thugs with dangerous dogs today won support from Merseyside MPs.
They joined our call for a government review of laws governing what should happen when innocent bystanders are viciously attacked by out-of-control animals.
The ECHO wants tougher rules and harsher punishments for yobs who set their dogs on other pets for sport or allow them to savage people in the street.
Home Secretary John Reid says there are no plans to take a fresh look at 15-year-old legislation unless evidence emerges that the current system is not working.
Riverside MP Louise Ellman, whohas previously contacted animal welfare minister Ben Bradshaw with constituents' worries about dangerous dogs, said: "There are not huge numbers of attacks in my constituency, but one is too many.
"When incidents happen, they are extremely traumatic for the people concerned.
"We certainly need to put the present legislation under the microscope and get much tougher as regards penalties before the worse happens - in other words, before someone is actually killed."
West Derby MP Bob Wareing also backed a review of the legislation.
He said: "There is always the danger that certain breeds of dangerous dogs are being used to intimidate people, possibly by gangs or loan sharks."
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