The Government has announced proposals to crackdown on dog owners with vicious pets.
As part of reforms of the Dangerous Dogs Act, measures include forcing all dog owners to take out insurance against the threat of their animal attacking someone, and having dogs microchipped.
Other proposals on the table include New Dog Control Notices, or "Dogbos", to allow police officers to enforce owners to muzzle, leash or neuter their pets.
In extreme cases dogs could even be confiscated and owners with "dangerously out of control" dogs could find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
The new regulations would also extend to private residences, giving postmen extra protection.
The measures are aimed at tackling the growing problem of vicious animals being bred for use as weapons.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: "The vast majority of dog owners are responsible, but there is no doubt that some people breed and keep dogs for the sole purpose of intimidating others, in a sense using dogs as a weapon."
