Unleashing my Dogs campaign on Westminster

Last week I met with the Minister responsible for reining-in Dangerous Dogs, Jonathan Shaw MP, to highlight the problem there is in Putney, Roehampton and Southfields and talk him through some of the responses you've been sending in to me.

We talked about some of the possible solutions; the Minister agreed with me that the Conservatives' plan for a £500-per-pet Dog Tax is ridiculous and unfair; but lots of respondents to my survey have supported the far cheaper idea of microchipping.

Since I brought up the idea of microchipping in this campaign, Wandsworth's Tory council has announced it plans to compel all its tenants to microchip their dogs. The problem with this is that while council tenants with well-behaved, properly controlled dogs will be forced to pay up or face eviction, home-owners and private tenants with dangerous dogs will escape scott-free.

It is unfair, pernicious and stereotypical to pick on one pretty small part of the community while ignoring the vast majority. But that's the Tories for you: preferring to be seen to do something instead of doing something EFFECTIVE. I think this problem needs a comprehensive answer - and that means tackling dangerous dogs whoever owns them.

The Minister and I will be meeting again once all the responses have been collated, so if you want to have your say direect to Government either write to me at 35 Felsham Road, London SW15 1AY or fill in my online Danger Dogs survey here.