by Katie Lamborn

klamborn@thekmgroup.co.uk

Kent Police revealed today the number of dangerous dogs reported to the force has halved in a year.

In 2008, 206 pets were reported under the Dangerous Dogs Act. But the following year there were just 95.

Four breeds are prohibited under the act - pit bull terriers, Japanese tosas, dogo Argentinos and fila Brazilieros.

But according to Inspector Preston Chalk, of the Kent Police's dog unit: "Any dog can be dangerous.

"A husky, a dalmation and a labrador are just some of the breeds of dogs that were reported to Kent Police under the Dangerous Dogs Act last year."

"There are many reasons why dogs can be dangerous but it's usually because the animal has been mistreated or that it hasn't been kept under proper control."

Inspector Chalk said: "We're not 100 per cent sure why the number of reported incidents dropped so dramatically last year.

"But we do feel that the activity around the issue of dangerous dogs and status dogs has been raised and as a consequence people are far more aware of the prohibited breeds.

"People are thinking twice about having dogs that may be illegal."

Between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, eight dogs reported to Kent Police were destroyed.

Five of those dogs were Staffordshire bull terriers, one a rottweiler, one a pittbull cross and the other was unknown.