LEGAL SERVICES
The science of Animal Behaviour is well respected in the courtroom, and over the past 21 years I have developed a particular knowledge and excellent reputation as an Expert Witness in Animal Law.
I am the only Clinical Animal Behaviourist in the UK to be listed with the National Crime Agency (NCA), on their Major Crimes Investigative Support (MCIS) Expert Advisers’ Database, and I am also registered with the UK Register of Expert Witnesses.
CRIMINAL & CIVIL LEGAL CASES
I have extensive experience working cases relating to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, the Dogs Act 1871, the Animals Act 1971 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. I have also worked on cases involving the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963, the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Hunting Act 2004, the Wild Mammals (Protection Act) 1996 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, in a variety of cases including tail docking, animal hoarding, fox hunting and wild bird entrapment.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES, FOSTERING & ADOPTION AGENCIES
Working alongside Local Authorities, I assess dogs whose owners are applying to foster, adopt or mind a child, and for schools introducing a “school dog” to their pupils. I assess kennel and cattery premises for licensing purposes and attend local Council hearings where appropriate. I also assist in civil cases involving ownership of the family dog and noise nuisance from barking dogs, and in mediation between neighbouring owners of free-ranging cats where problems arise. I am also involved in child and vulnerable person protection cases involving dogs.
I receive instructions from solicitors (for both criminal and civil cases) and police forces, and have given evidence in the Magistrates’, Crown and Coroners’ Courts on many occasions.
I conduct behavioural assessment and breed identification of dogs whose owners are facing prosecution under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: Section 1 [Possession of a prohibited breed] and Section 3(1) and (4) [Being the owner/person in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control (aggravated and non-aggravated offences)], and Section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 [Being the owner of a dog which is dangerous and not kept under proper control].
For welfare cases, I consider the issue of mental suffering in animals under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 [Unnecessary suffering] and consider the needs of animals under Section 9 [Duty of person responsible for ensure welfare].
I also consider the issue of strict liability for damage done by animals, under Section 2(2) of the Animals Act 1971 [Liability for damage done by dangerous animals].
I have been instructed as an expert for the prosecution for many years: to date these forces include the Metropolitan Police Service Status Dogs Unit, the British Transport Police, and the constabularies of Avon & Somerset, Derbyshire, Devon & Cornwall, Dorset, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Hertfordshire (combined with Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire), Humberside, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northumbria, Nottinghamshire, South Wales, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, West Mercia, West Midlands and West Yorkshire. I have been instructed as a defence expert for numerous solicitors’ practices including the better-known Cooper & Co., Wheldon Law and Parry Welch.
On 3rd July 2015, I received the Operational Command Unit (OCU) Commander’s Commendation from the Metropolitan Police Service Specialist Crimes and Operations Taskforce, for professionalism in the investigation of animal welfare and submission of high quality evidence leading to a successful prosecution and the rescue of 33 dogs and three cats from a single household.
I have been instructed as an expert for the prosecution by the Crown Prosecution Service and police forces nationwide, including the Metropolitan Police Service Status Dogs Unit, the British Transport Police, and the constabularies of Avon & Somerset, Derbyshire, Devon & Cornwall, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Humberside, Kent, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northumbria, South Wales, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, West Mercia, West Midlands and West Yorkshire. I have been instructed as a defence expert for numerous solicitors’ practices including Cooper & Co., Wheldon Law and Parry Welch.
I have also been instructed by local authorities including the London Borough of Newham, Fareham Borough Council, and Epping Forest Environmental Department (City of London).
I work with Dog Legislation Officers (DLOs) from police forces nationwide, and I am a lecturer in dog behaviour on the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) DLO training course which runs twice a year through their Status Dogs Unit, and similar courses run by West Midlands Police and West Yorkshire Police. These courses are nationally accredited by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). In addition to my behavioural input, I have also attended the MPS course in its entirety for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes. In 2015, I carried out a series of DLO Refresher seminars, lecturing in dog behaviour and the behaviour of dangerous dogs across the southern half of the UK, at the request of the Metropolitan Police Service and funded by Defra. I received personal thanks from Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard (then NPCC holder of the Dangerous Dogs Portfolio for Police in England and Wales) for my input on these courses. On 21st September 2023 I delivered a talk at a seminar produced by Nine St John Street, Manchester for insurers and solicitors, on the rise in dog bite litigation. I also gave a presentation at the NPCC Dangerous Dogs Conference in London on 12th October 2023, at the request of Chief Inspector Patrick O’Hara, NPCC Deputy Lead on Dangerous Dogs.
Please contact me to discuss further: candy@petconsultant.co.uk or candy.dsa@petconsultant.cjsm.net