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The new Welsh Government must take concrete action to protect communities from dangerous dogs, a Senedd Member has said.

Plaid Cymru’s Peredur Owen Griffiths raised the issue in the Senedd last week, highlighting the “extremely distressing attacks and fatalities involving out-of-control dogs in the region I represented”.

In 2021, ten-year-old Jack Lis and grandmother Shirley Patrick, both from Penyrheol, were killed by XL bully breeds.

Mr Owen Griffiths represented the South Wales East region in the last Senedd term, of which Caerphilly was a part, but now covers the Casnewydd Islwyn seat. Before his election to the Senedd in 2021, he served on Penyrheol, Trecenydd, and Energlyn Community Council.

Calling for more to be done to promote responsible dog ownership, Mr Owen Griffiths said: “One of the areas I focused on in the last Senedd concerned dangerous dogs and the promotion of responsible dog ownership.”

He continued: “As well as raising the issue on numerous occasions with the then First Minister and minister for rural affairs, I also put forward a member’s legislative proposal that puts the focus on responsible dog ownership.

“This followed the principle that pretty much any dog can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and this is how many other countries approach the matter, with great results.”

He referred to schemes such as the Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs (LEAD) scheme, which was launched in 2023.

Led by Gwent Police, Caerphilly County Borough Council, and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the scheme is modelled on similar initiatives in other parts of the UK. It provides advice to the public on dog-related issues, as well as improving dog safety and welfare. It also deals with antisocial and ‘inconsiderate’ behaviour by those with dogs.

But Mr Owen Griffiths warned this type of provision “can be patchy across Wales” – and accused the last Welsh Government of doing “much talking but little in the way of concrete action”.

Asking for a statement from the Plaid Cymru-led government on how it plans to pursue the issue, he said: “It is imperative that we promote community safety and ensure that our approach to dangerous dogs and responsible ownership is consistent throughout the country.”

Heledd Fychan, the Trefnydd, responded on behalf of the Welsh Government and said she would ask the relevant cabinet minister for an update.

The issue was strongly championed by the late Caerphilly MS Hefin David, while the former Labour MP for Caerphilly, Sir Wayne David, staunchly campaigned for changes to dangerous dog laws in the UK Parliament – resulting in then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak adding XL Bullies to the list of banned breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act.