Victims of horrific dog attacks in Bradford have given a guarded welcome to a planned crackdown by the Government on dangerous animals but warned they “lack bite”.

In an announcement to Parliament today, Environment Minister Jim Paice revealed plans for the compulsory microchipping of Dogs by breeders so owners can be traced as well as plans to close a loophole in the law so that dog owners will face prosecution if their pet attacks someone on their property.

Both measures were among a wider list of demands made by the Telegraph & Argus six years ago when we started a campaign to toughen up the Dangerous Dogs Act, which was rushed through Parliament after Bradford six-year-old Rukhsana Khan was left with life-changing injuries in a savage attack by a pit bull terrier in 1991.

Last night former teacher and magistrate Sue Brown – who was mauled by a dog in Heaton woods in 2007 – 16 years after her former pupil Rukhsana was savaged – said she did not think the proposed legislation went far enough.

Mrs Brown, 62, who was left with serious injuries to her right arm in the attack, said: “Nothing’s changed for me. These changes lack bite. I think of what’s happened to Rukhsana and other children and it makes me really sad.

“I still see people out with what I can only describe as designer thug dogs and these are the sort of people who won’t get their dogs chipped. I’m glad something’s being done but it won’t change anything. The current laws aren’t enforced anyway.”