Irresponsible dog owners could be fined up to £20,000 (more than €25,000) under new laws that come into force in the UK on Monday to prevent dog attacks.
Owners of dogs that kill a person could face 14 years - up from two years - while the maximum sentence for injury will increase from two years to five years.
Police and local councils are being granted the new powers after campaigners - including workers from the Royal Mail - fought for tougher laws to deal with dangerous dogs.
More than 3,000 postal workers in the UK are reported to be attacked by dogs every year. 6,740 people altogether required hospital treatment for dog attacks in the 12 months up to January of this year, while eight adults and 13 children have been killed by dogs since 2005.
The UK's Animal Welfare Minister - Lord de Mauley - says officers will be able to serve owners with a community protection notice as the first port of call:
