Expert Witness

Mr David Ryan
PG Dip (CABC) CCAB

Address:
Spring Cottage, Linstock, Carlisle, CA6 4QB

Contact:
tel 07734 446158 fax 01228 501055

email:
d.r@tinyworld.co.uk

Website:
http://www.dog-secrets.co.uk


Areas of Expertise: Canine behaviour and training; Police dog handling and training; Dangerous Dogs Act; Animals Act; Companion animal behaviour.

Background information: David Ryan retired from Cumbria Constabulary in 2007 following a 32 year police career, including 26 years as a police dog trainer and instructor with full Home Office accredited qualifications.

During his police career David had extensive experience of report writing, court prosecutions and procedures. He has given evidence in court on numerous occasions and is well versed in legal protocol. As a police dog instructor he was responsible for the maintenance of training records for dogs and handlers and their assessment under the National Police Dog Assessment Model, including failures to meet grades and remedial actions.

He produced records of competence for dogs and handlers in support of prosecutions and worked in conjunction with the force legal team in defence of allegations made against them. He was also involved in the monitoring of all dog bites inflicted by the constabulary’s police dogs and advised the force on all aspects of dog related matters, including prosecutions of alleged dangerous dogs.

In 2002, he completed a postgraduate Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling, with distinction, from Southampton University, an internationally recognised centre of excellence for animal behaviour studies.

In 2008 he was Certificated as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist by the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour, the highest possible independent accreditation, recognised by both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Psychological Society.

He now provides companion animal behaviour counselling services on veterinary referral and an expert witness consultancy concerning both civil and criminal litigation involving dogs and other companion animals.

In 2009 David was elected Chair of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, the leading association in its field.

David has lectured on canine behaviour to organisations such as the Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group, BSc Animal Behaviour Students and Pet Rescue/rehoming Centres, including Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and Wood Green Animal Shelter.

In 2010 David wrote the RSPCA’s definitive guide on dealing with aggression in dogs, a version of which is available for the public on their website at http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/dogs/behaviour/aggression

David is an invited member of the expert panel for the DEFRA commissioned review of human directed dog aggression currently being undertaken at the University of Liverpool, and a visiting lecturer on Newcastle University’s MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare.

In 2011 David oversaw the production of training for Local Authority Authorised Officers on behalf of the Scottish Government in preparation for the introduction of the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.

David has been an independently vetted member of the UK Register of Expert Witnesses since 2008 and consequently is well versed in the latest requirements of the Civil and Criminal Procedure Rules in relation to expert witnesses.

Geographical area of work: All of UK

Membership of professional associations:

• Chair of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors
• Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group (BSAVA affiliated)
• Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour

Fees: available on request

Since offering a consultancy in expert witness services David has assessed and examined the behaviour of a wide variety of breeds and types of dogs in wide variety of circumstances, and provided expert opinion in a range of civil and criminal cases:

Civil actions (both plaintiff and defendant)
• Actions for damages for personal injury and loss (Animals Act 1971)
• Actions against employers breaching their duty of care relating to the management of keeping dogs.
• Actions on behalf of plaintiffs (including police officers) bitten by police dogs.
• Actions against dog trainers by pet owners.

Criminal cases
• Murder
• Arson
• Assaults under the Offences Against the Person Act (personal and affray)
• Cases in which it is alleged that a dog has been used as a weapon.
• Cases relying on the evidence of police dog and handler teams (tracking, weapons search, forensic evidence search dogs).
• Cases in which the defendant has been detained (bitten) by a police dog.
• Identification of dogs alleged to be of the Pit Bull Terrier type (Sec 1 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991) and assessment of their behaviour to establish their suitability for a contingent destruction order (Sec 4(A) DDA) for both defence and prosecution.
• Examination of the behaviour of dogs alleged to be dangerously out of control (Sec 3 DDA) and with regard to their suitability for a contingent destruction order, for both defence and prosecution.
• Appeals against destruction orders for allegedly dangerous dogs.

Notably:

Central Criminal Court trial in which it was alleged that a pit bull terrier type dog had been used as a weapon to assist in the murder. After assessing the dog, examining the evidence and submitting a report on its behaviour, defence Counsel were able to successfully submit that the dog was not directed by the defendant.

Edinburgh High Court murder trial in which the evidence of a police tracking dog and handler team was not used following examination of their evidence and submission of a report by the defence.

Central Criminal Court in a murder trial the interpretation of evidence submitted by a police weapons search dog handler in relation to firearms alleged to have been linked to a particular person was called into question.

Claim for damages where the claimant, an employee of a kennels for abandoned animals, sustained severe injuries whilst attempting to intervene in a fight between two dogs. Whilst the employer denied liability, examination of the evidence revealed that the injury could have been avoided if adequate procedures had been in place, resulting in a speedy settlement of the claim.

Several instances of family pets alleged to be dangerous by virtue of their type or their behaviour returned to their owners.

In 2011 David prepared thirty case reports in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and attended Court once only. These are some of the comments received from instructing solicitors:

Many thanks for your assistance, I’m glad to inform you that we will not require you to give evidence. Your report has been incredibly useful in cross examining the Crown’s witnesses. (Murder trial – evidence of police weapons search dog)

A senior prosecutor has read your report and in light of the same, concluded that they cannot win the trial. Consequently the case against XXX has been dropped… Great result – thank you again for all of your assistance. (Alleged S1 Pit Bull Terrier ‘type’ dangerous dog)

I am pleased to be able to report that my office received an official notice of discontinuance from the Crown… Accordingly there will now be no trial. I am under no illusion that the Prosecution’s decision was based substantially on your most professional report and I have no hesitation in asking my office to enter your name into our register of approved experts. (Theft trial where the two accused had been subject to remand in custody on the strength of police dog tracking evidence)

May I say that I am very impressed with the speed and thoroughness with which you have carried out your examinations and prepared your reports. Thank you very much and I shall certainly recommend you to any colleague who may need a similar report. (Two Pit Bull Terrier ‘type’ dogs subject to contingent destruction orders)

May we take this opportunity of thanking you for your assistance in relation to this case and if we require your assistance in future then we will of course be in contact. (Defendant accused of cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act)

This case had many novel features, not least the issue of the dogs and we are pleased to have been able to instruct you in this matter. We are very grateful for all your help and co-operation and look forward to being able to instruct you in the future. (Murder trial, police dog tracking evidence)

I take this opportunity to thank you for a most comprehensive and detailed report, in which I was most impressed, and my client also praised you in your execution of your report. This report has aided my client’s case significantly and it will certainly help her to win her case. (Employee alleging negligence when severely bitten by a dog in the course of her employment).

Service of the report has prompted the other side to put forward an offer… I am pleased to report that a settlement has been reached. Many thanks for your assistance. (Plaintiff bitten by dog, claim under terms of the Animals Act 1971)

If you would like to take advantage of David’s unique combination of legal expertise, experience and theoretical knowledge of canine behaviour you can contact him here.