Rspca Seeks Pitbull Homes

[RottnBullies]

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THE RSPCA in Tasmania is trying to find homes for a litter of purebred pitbull pups while a national debate rages about whether the controversial dog breed should be banned.

Just 10 days ago a four-year-old girl was killed in an attack in Victoria when a neighbour's pitbull entered her family home.

The State Opposition has labelled the RSPCA's actions irresponsible and out of step with the community's viewpoint of the breed.

But RSPCA chief executive officer Ben Sturges said the animal welfare group had a national policy to rehome pitbulls and pitbull crosses that passed a behavioural test.

"There's a lot of stigma around the dogs but our position is that we don't think that pitbulls are necessarily the problem," he said.

The RSPCA believes it is the way the dog is raised and cared for by some people that leads to problems.

Mr Sturges said they were looking for "loving homes" for the pitbull pups.

RSPCA senior canine behaviour trainer Kim Robertson said potential owners would undergo a stringent screening process.

"Obviously we're aware that this may generate interest from inappropriate owners," she said.

Ms Robertson said all dogs rehomed by the organisation, including the pitbull pups, were individually assessed regardless of their breed.

They were then matched to an owner that could cater for the specific needs of each dog.

"Any dog that doesn't meet our temperate assessment will be put to sleep," she said.

She said the RSPCA would provide potential owners with information about how to reduce the "negative tendencies" of any dog.

"Pitbulls do have a tendency to show dog-directed aggression, although this does vary from dog to dog," Ms Robertson said.

Opposition Local Government spokesman Rene Hidding said it was "disturbing that this litter of puppies exists".

"Clearly there is somebody out there with pitbulls capable of breeding which is a serious offence and to be frank the RSPCA appears to be compounding that offence.

"We'll be contacting the Minister for Local Government Bryan Green to understand how it is that a community association like the RSPCA can give away pitbulls in light of the legislation that was passed in 2009.

"The changes in 2009, while they certainly didn't go far enough in our view, did impose significant restrictions on the sale of pitbull terriers and that includes the giving away or disposing of pitbull terriers.

"It might be that the RSPCA has found a loophole but that's hardly the way that a respected organisation should operate."

Acting Minister for Local Government David O'Byrne said he would "be very concerned" if someone had bred pitbull terriers in Tasmania.

"As a restricted breed, this is expressly against the law. All pitbull terriers in Tasmania must be de-sexed," he said.

"There are also very strict laws in Tasmania that govern the sale or transfer of ownership of restricted breed dogs.

"Anyone wanting to receive a pitbull terrier must seek the permission of their local council and a pitbull terrier cannot be sold or given away without that permission being granted.

"I am confident the RSPCA will meet its obligations in this regard. There are also extremely strict requirements for any person wanting to own a pitbull terrier.

"They would need to keep the dog in a childproof enclosure, fit the property with appropriate warning signs and ensure the dog is both muzzled and kept on a short lead by a person over the age of 18 when in a public place.

"These laws have been designed to minimise the risk that dangerous dogs pose to the community and ensure that owners of either restricted breed dogs or dogs declared as dangerous take the necessary precautions to protect other people from a dog attack."

Since the mauling death in Victoria on August 18, Mr Hidding said he had received numerous calls and letters from people concerned about the breed in Tasmania.

Comments on all stories must now contain your full name (first name and surname) and suburb

A letter passed on to the Sunday Tasmanian detailed a recent attack on a seven-year-old boy who was leaving a school friend's house when the family dog chased him outside and savaged him. The boy suffered deep cuts to the top of his head and side of his neck.

It was only the intervention of a neighbour that saved him more serious injuries.

It is alleged that when the boy's mother complained to the local council and police she was told there was nothing they could do because the dog was on the owner's property.

Other animal welfare groups, including the Dogs' Home of Tasmania, take a firm stand on pitbulls, immediately euthanasing any purebreds that come into their care.

Dogs' Homes president Geoff Clarke said cross-breeds were rehomed as long as they passed a behaviour test.

Glenorchy City Council city inspector Steve Rigby said there were 24 registered American pitbull terriers in the municipality and 17 American pitbull crosses but there were at least another 24 purebreds and 19 crosses in the area that were unregistered.

"The dog has to be microchipped and when in a public place it has to wear a specific collar and has to be muzzled," Mr Rigby said.

Of the more than 5200 dogs registered with the Hobart City Council, only two are pitbull crosses. However a council spokesman said restrictions imposed on pitbulls did not extend to cross-breeds.

There are about 5500 dogs registered in Kingborough, including one pitbull cross and five American pitbull cross dogs.

[GeckoTree]

Bizarre i thought Taz brought in BSL for the pure breed last year? Must be OK to sell/give away down there? cant see a loop hole.

Regardless good on em, f*** the governments bunch of roach smoker vote grabbers they were told by there own field workers.

[Aidan3]

I want to know how they knew they were "purebred" pitbull pups? There are definitely pitbulls down here, but how do you know when the pups have been dumped? Were they dumped with papers?

[Alyosha]

Love the way opposition MPs fuel public hysteria for their own ends instead of considering fact or reason.

[RottnBullies]

The pups are not pure, and I think the RSPCA knows this. It was meant to be a story on how these pups were dumped at a tip, but the media has ran with It In a total different direction....surprise surprise

Have read elsewhere from someone who has actually gone In and viewed pups and that the RSPCA Is not Impressed with the article