Ldh Vs Rspca

[Sheridan]

Not my quote but that of Dr Graeme Smith from LDH.

ABC story below. There's a videoon the website that I've not yet watched.

RSPCA rejects pitbull crossbreed sale claim

A row has broken out between two of Victoria's animal welfare organisations in the wake of last week's fatal dog attack in St Albans.

The Melbourne Lost Dogs Home has accused the RSPCA of selling pitbull terriers back into the community under the guise of staffordshire crossbreeds.

RSPCA Victoria rejects the allegation, maintaining that dogs should be judged on their deeds, not their breeds, and that it is operating within the law.

It has been a week since four-year-old Ayen Chol was mauled to death by a pitbull crossbreed that was not registered.

The dog has been destroyed and state politicians are preparing to table new laws to regulate dangerous dogs.

"There has been contention about crossbreeds and we are going to have a visual code that we will bring in next week as well that will resolve this issue," said Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh.

The RSPCA agrees that identifying crossbreeds is contentious.

"It's very difficult to assess an animal by its breed type, by its appearance," shelter manager Allie Jalbert said.

"There's specifications that the Victorian Government has put forward and they're the specifications that we use."

At the Lost Dogs Home, appearance is enough to determine breed.

"My view is that if it looks like a pitbull, it's a pitbull," chief executive Dr Graeme Smith said.

A third of the dogs it catches fit the dangerous description and most are destroyed.

"The owners are getting around the laws by failing to register them or not registering them and calling them a crossbreed or some other breed," Dr Smith said.

In 2009, a pitbull attack in Reservoir left a man hospitalised and his small dog dead.

RSPCA Victoria president Hugh Wirth said at the time that pitbulls were "time bombs waiting for the right circumstances" and that "they're not suitable pets for anybody".

It is a view that is at odds with his own organisation.

"RSPCA policy is quite clear on the fact that it really is about deed and breed specifically," shelter manager Allie Jalbert said.

But Mr Walsh is standing by Mr Wirth's comments.

"The president of the RSPCA is on the public record as well in believing that this type of dog has no right to exist as well," he said.

In a further step, the Government plans to change the Crimes Act allowing owners to be held criminally responsible for their dog's behaviour.

[cybergenesis]

Nothing wrong with Pitbulls... No dog breeds should be banned, and its awful that we already ban several dog breeds in Australia.

[corrie]

Ahhhhh. So that is the reason for the higher euth rate at LDH. Good to know.

[BJean]

Not my quote but that of Dr Graeme Smith from LDH.

ABC story below. There's a videoon the website that I've not yet watched.

RSPCA rejects pitbull crossbreed sale claim

At the Lost Dogs Home, appearance is enough to determine breed.

"My view is that if it looks like a pitbull, it's a pitbull," chief executive Dr Graeme Smith said.

A third of the dogs it catches fit the dangerous description and most are destroyed.

Yeah I bet that is convenient.

[casowner]

Not my quote but that of Dr Graeme Smith from LDH.

ABC story below. There's a videoon the website that I've not yet watched.

RSPCA rejects pitbull crossbreed sale claim

At the Lost Dogs Home, appearance is enough to determine breed.

"My view is that if it looks like a pitbull, it's a pitbull," chief executive Dr Graeme Smith said.

A third of the dogs it catches fit the dangerous description and most are destroyed.

Yeah I bet that is convenient.

I wonder who their "expert" breed identifyer is? Probably the work experience student

[sandgrubber]

I think the public, including most politicians, is clueless about the difficulties of breed identification.

How about somebody organising an event . . . call it, say "full of Bull" . . . . invite a bunch of people with X-breeds that look bull breed like (though it would be good to a few short haired muscular medium sized dogs with no bull in them), plus some pedigree Am Staffs, and then play "spot the pit bull" . . . If you played it right, you might even get some 'experts' to make fools of themselves in public, with media present.

Edited August 27, 2011 by sandgrubber

[casowner]

Sandgrubber it would be good if the DNA tests were more accurate so then the dogs that are coming could be DNA tested first and the results shown after the "experts" have announced their opinions.

[littlesquashyguys]

I think the public, including most politicians, is clueless about the difficulties of breed identification.

How about somebody organising an event . . . call it, say "full of Bull" . . . . invite a bunch of people with X-breeds that look bull breed like (though it would be good to a few short haired muscular medium sized dogs with no bull in them), plus some pedigree Am Staffs, and then play "spot the pit bull" . . . If you played it right, you might even get some 'experts' to make fools of themselves in public, with media present.

I've occasionally had people in the street walk up to me and ask me if my Pug is a Pitbull! A few weeks ago, while we were at the beach, a group of kids ran up to him, screaming and shouting Pitbull! Pitbull!

What chance have the poor Pitbulls got, when most people don't even know what one looks like?

[Horse2008]

Have you noticed that Mr Smith also goes on to say it's irresponsible owners and BYB's fault so many end up in shelters, not misidentification that so many dogs end up dead.

AAARRGGGHHHH...this is all contradictory crap! The government should stop trying to choose what breed people own and start enforcing the laws we already have!

[bluedeer]

I think the public, including most politicians, is clueless about the difficulties of breed identification.

How about somebody organising an event . . . call it, say "full of Bull" . . . . invite a bunch of people with X-breeds that look bull breed like (though it would be good to a few short haired muscular medium sized dogs with no bull in them), plus some pedigree Am Staffs, and then play "spot the pit bull" . . . If you played it right, you might even get some 'experts' to make fools of themselves in public, with media present.

I've occasionally had people in the street walk up to me and ask me if my Pug is a Pitbull! A few weeks ago, while we were at the beach, a group of kids ran up to him, screaming and shouting Pitbull! Pitbull!

What chance have the poor Pitbulls got, when most people don't even know what one looks like?

If they can't tell the difference between pug and pitbull, what chance do staffies have?

[Sheridan]

If they can't tell the difference between pug and pitbull, what chance do staffies have?

None. I don't know any staffy that isn't a total love bunny wriggle bum but I can't see bull breeds being alive for very long at all in Victoria. And when they get rid of the bull breeds, they'll move onto the next breed and then the next and the next.

[sandgrubber]

If they can't tell the difference between pug and pitbull, what chance do staffies have?

None. I don't know any staffy that isn't a total love bunny wriggle bum but I can't see bull breeds being alive for very long at all in Victoria. And when they get rid of the bull breeds, they'll move onto the next breed and then the next and the next.

I don't think Staffies will have much trouble with the standard. Here's a profile from the standard. I've never seen a staffie with a neck or, for that matter, legs like this.