Lucas Rules Out Attack On Problem Dogs

[Keira&Phoenix]

Some vaguely good news for those of us in Qld.

Linky

QUEENSLAND appears unlikely to follow Victoria's hardline push against dangerous dog breeds after Deputy Premier Paul Lucas said current laws provided adequate protection.

Local councils in Victoria will be able to destroy unregistered pit bulls under new state laws introduced after the death of a four-year-old girl mauled by a pit bull/mastiff cross in Melbourne on August 18.

A spokesman for Mr Lucas said pit bulls in Queensland were already declared a dangerous breed and must be registered.

The law states they must also be kept in a child-proof and escape-proof enclosure, be desexed and never be allowed out without being on a lead and muzzled.

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said his organisation did not agree that pit bulls should be eradicated.

"There are a large number of dogs out there that are well handled and well socialised, with responsible owners who never cause any problems," he said.

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"It's a matter of punishing the deed, not the breed.

"Unfortunately, pit bulls and their crosses attract many people who should not own any dog. They want a dog for fighting or pigging or they think by having a tough dog, it makes them look tough or macho."

The Victorian Government will introduce the laws ending the amnesty on registering restricted dog breeds and make pit bull crosses a restricted breed.

Victoria's Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said the legislation is the first of several measures to eradicate restricted dog breeds, following the tragic death of four-year-old Ayen Chol, who was mauled to death by a neighbour's pit bull mastiff in her home at St Albans.

RSPCA Victoria chief executive Maria Mercurio said that, while she welcomed the Government's move to protect the community, it was extremely difficult to identify dog breeds purely by sight and mistakes could be made.

"It's a very dangerous way to be going about this," she said.

"Even so-called experts have difficulty determining exact breeds, particularly with cross breeds."

She said the organisation had received dozens of calls from worried pet owners, afraid their dog would be mistaken for a dangerous breed.

And the pic they used (better than a snarling or chained, muzzled PB)

Edited September 8, 2011 by Keira&Phoenix

[Atanquin]

Awww looks like it's yawning

[Keira&Phoenix]

Awww looks like it's yawning

I am pretty sure it is Atanquin