DNB Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/bikie-link-to-pit-bull-racket/story-fn7x8me2-1226133521700 Bikie link to pit bull racket HIGHLY organised criminals including bikies are using pit bulls as weapons amid claims of an illegal importation racket in Australia. At least 100 staffies are allowed into the country each year on little more than a promise they're not pit bulls. Police sources say many pit bulls in Victoria are unregistered and owned by criminals. "They use them like weapons," one source said. "Council rangers won't get close to them." An associate of the Bandidos bikie gang is known to keep one. Criminal sources in Victoria have told the Herald Sun of an international importation scheme whereby pit bulls are brought to Australia from the US. The dogs are described by importers on official Customs papers as staffordshire terriers, whose physical characteristics strongly resemble pit bulls. Staffies are not on the list of dangerous dogs banned from entry. The dogs are believed to originate from a pit bull breeder in the Pennsylvania town of Reading. They are promoted online and typically enter Australia through Western Australia, where they are bred and distributed, often to criminal elements, around the country. Customs figures show WA is a key entry point for staffordshire terriers. Last year, 29 of the 102 staffies brought into the country arrived in WA, compared with 16 in Victoria, 15 in Queensland and 31 in NSW. So far this year, 19 dogs have entered Australia through WA - more than any other state. Customs officers require a signed declaration from a vet and from those importing dogs attesting to the breed. The agency was unable to say whether it had ever stopped a pit bull at the nation's borders. The racket exploits confusion over how pit bulls are identified. Revelations of the hardcore criminal aspect of pit bull ownership will test the effectiveness of the Victorian Government's crackdown on dangerous dogs. The Government has set up a dangerous dog hotline, increased penalties and enhanced powers for council dog catchers following the fatal attack by a pit bull cross on St Albans girl Ayen Chol. A 27-year-old man required plastic surgery after a staffordshire terrier mauled him in Berwick this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DNB Posted September 10, 2011 Author Share Posted September 10, 2011 And the comments • Mark C of Melbourne Posted at 1:03 AM Today What a revelation...Criminals own mean dogs! Is this from the same researcher that suggested that men like girls with nice breasts and cute backsides? Comment 1 of 28 • john Posted at 4:11 AM Today one way to defend yourselfe even if it is unconventional is to buy a staffy bull terrier they are family friendly dog and are very good with kids and are not agressive to people but a good sized male is a match for a pit bull and would most likly act as a deterant so you could walk about the streets with an animal that is your friend for life. Comment 2 of 28 • L Anderson Posted at 4:46 AM Today I care what anyone says Staffies are a dangerous breed, they are a brainless stupid dog and you could never trust one around kids. Everything to the Staffies I've come across in my time (which is a lot) is all fun even biting and I say ban them from Australia Comment 3 of 28 • Whistleblower of Melbourne Posted at 5:18 AM Today This is another example of the inability of customs and regulatory authorities to take reasonable steps to control this vile dog trade. The first step is to ban Staffordshire terriers as well. The second step is to make possession of either a pitbull or a Staffordshire terrier jailable offence with a minimum of six months, and for authorities to have immediate power to shoot such dogs on site with the owners of the owner to prove that it is not one of these breeds. Furthermore all such imports should be quarantined for a period of necessary for a DNA test to verify its supposedly breed. Take these steps and you will solve the problem in 6 to 12 months. Community safety is much more important than the egos of dog breeders, many of whose egos are suspect anyway. Comment 4 of 28 • thinker of qld Posted at 5:51 AM Today pitbulls are bought into Australia under the bulldust name of american rednose staffys . Any fool can see they are pitbulls. Comment 5 of 28 • Georgie of Melbourne Posted at 6:15 AM Today Dont compare staffies to Pit Bulls, they are different and people who have been attacked by one you can blame the owner, because the Staffie is a beautiful family dog and tolerates a lot from children, they are there to protect there family not hurt them. Suggestion desexing the dogs makes a huge difference too. Comment 6 of 28 • Poor judgement. Posted at 6:28 AM Today Stop the import of dangerous dogs and spend more money educating quarantine and customs offices to recognise dangerous dog breeds.The dogs should be going into quarantine before being released to the importer, it wouldn't take much more than a blood test to prove the breed. The present situation is an excuse for slack survillience. Comment 7 of 28 • Alice of Hunter Valley NSW Posted at 7:02 AM Today Wow! ONE person who knows someone from ONE bikie gang owns ONE dog that may or may not be a pit bull (with no evidence cited to prove whether it is or isn't) and that's the basis for your 'Bikie Link' headline? Must be a slow news day when you have to use such a tenuous link to the bogeyman du jour to fill column space. Comment 8 of 28 • Doggone dangerous Of Geelong of Victoria Posted at 7:07 AM Today If dangerous dogs must wear collars, signage on the fences and be registered then how do we allow security companies to rent out dogs to guard premises. I know of a local cartage and timber yard than hires German shepherds to guard their property. These dogs through themselves at the fence as you walk past. I would hate to see what would happen if a child put their hand through the fence or if one escaped as they are obviously trained to attack Comment 9 of 28 • No need Posted at 7:32 AM Today Staffordshire bull terriers are just as dangerous and should be outlawed as well. In fact we have no need for any dangerous breeds in this country. Ban them all. The new law hasn't gone far enough. Comment 10 of 28 • Mrs Fed Up of Berwick Posted at 7:34 AM Today Why did the HS not publish stories on how aggressive Rottwilers can be after a man was attacked by one last week? Or publish stories on the high rate of attacks by Golden Retrievers after four adults (including it's owner) were mauled in March of this year? Comment 11 of 28 • John a motorcycle rider of Blackburn Posted at 7:58 AM Today Since when does "Associate" make someone a member of one of these so called "bikie" clubs? From what I am told these clubs have very strict membership admission criteria and being an associate - doesn't make one a member of that motorcycle club. So, there isn't a proven link here. Some "wannabe" that desires to join this club happens to keep one. But, that person is actually not a member - just an associate. For all we know they may not even own or ride a motorcycle. This article just builds on the public perception that people who ride motorcycles must be really bad people. Unfortunately, as one who rides a motorcycle similar to those members in one of these clubs, I now have to live with the stigma which articles like this impose on me. Comment 12 of 28 • Bell of Melbourne Posted at 7:58 AM Today What's with all the pitbull bashing in the last several years? Making them sound like monsters. They are just normal dogs. Any dog bites(even if it wasn't a pitbull) are blamed on pitbulls on the news and media. "Think of the children" "Protect the children" is the excuse of most new laws that attack human rights. Well cars and spiders can kill children too. Why don't we get them banned too while were at it. I believe it is right for the owner of the dog to pay for not securing their dogs, however to forcefully confiscate and put down a family dog that has not done anything wrong is an attack on human and animal rights. We are getting very close to communism. Comment 13 of 28 • I dont agree of melbourne Posted at 8:46 AM Today When they are talking about staffies do the mean american staffordshire terrier or english staffordshire terriers as they are quite differnt in size, english would be a bout 15-25kg and american about 30-45kg. Through all my years dealing with staffies i have not ever come across an agressive one but most have been pure breed with papers and have been in loving familys. I dont believe that destroying a breed of dog is the answer, the owners need to be more responsable for the pets. pets should be registered, and house correctly eg, proper fencing etc. A man threw his daughter off the west gate bridge and he didnt get destroyed!! Comment 14 of 28 • Concerned of Melbourne Posted at 8:47 AM Today It's easy. Ban the importation of any breed that MAY be a pit bull and let the onus be on the individual receiving in Australia to prove it is NOT. And, have importation of all breeds through ONE point of entry here. The additional cost of onforwarding the animal through Australia will be minimal. There are always ways of slowing and stopping this sort of thing, Goverment's have to be proactive! Comment 15 of 28 • Pedigree Staffy Owner with papers of on the couch with my staffy Posted at 9:26 AM Today 'The dogs are described by importers on official Customs papers as staffordshire terriers, whose physical characteristics strongly resemble pit bulls'........ Are these customs people blind or something a staffy looks nothing like a pit bull ,perhaps the journo needs to redo it but use Amstaffs as the dog that resembles a pitbull ,as no way a staffy does not now not ever ... Comment 16 of 28 • lynn of seaford Posted at 10:11 AM Today surely it should be possible to identify pit bulls by their DNA Comment 17 of 28 • Redskippy of Lower Plenty Posted at 10:13 AM Today Would customs turn a blind eye to bringing white powder in to Australia if I sign a declaration stating its just flour? Comment 18 of 28 • the Truth of Melbourne Posted at 10:49 AM Today Time to slam the door shut on this loophole. Comment 19 of 28 • Boroondara Resident of Boroondara Posted at 11:08 AM Today The whole breed including staffies should be wiped out! Go buy an intelligent dog. Brittany Spaniel, GSP, English Pointer, Vizsla. Comment 20 of 28 • Mr. B Posted at 11:40 AM Today Well I'm convinced,, if one person that knows a bikie has a pitbull then every bikie in the country must be guilty of illegally importing them. Comment 21 of 28 • kylie of geelong Posted at 11:47 AM Today I cannot beleive that you are putting a staffy in the same sentance as a pit bull....! Full blood Staffy's are the most gentle dogs especially with kids. Comment 22 of 28 • country gal of in the kitchen! Posted at 12:05 PM Today I noticed on an online site last week "American Staffies" for sale- to me as an onlooker that means "Pit Bull". If I can see these for sale why not the authorities. Maybe they can but are hamstrung by the legalities etc. Comment 23 of 28 • 123 Posted at 12:21 PM Today so you know its going on but do nothing? is that the moral of the story? Comment 24 of 28 • Nick Posted at 1:07 PM Today So these dogs aren't a problem.... yeah right!! Simple... banning both Pitbulls and Staffies will solve the problem. Keep these potential killers and maimers out of our society. If you want a dog, get a decent one. Not a potential killer. Comment 25 of 28 • Dudley of melbourne Posted at 1:32 PM Today This has been going on for years.... you can by a pitty sold as a staffy online.. go on have a look.... it's all in the colour of the dog Comment 26 of 28 • Billy B.Tso of Melb Posted at 2:08 PM Today a lot of estimations and accusations without foundations. Comment 27 of 28 • cb of Melbourne Posted at 2:16 PM Today OK, so shut it down. Just do it. No more allowed into the country, even if they're under the description of pomeranian. What is so damn hard about this? Just do it. Then jail anyone associated with it. Get tough or get out. Comment 28 of 28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeckoTree Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 An associate of the Bandidos bikie gang is known to keep one. which means bikie pitbull racket.err righteyo then. It's getting poorer and poorer this stuff, are kellogs putting journalist certificates into cornflake packets now or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bslsux Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 I have just heard that Lost Dogs Home may be the source. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DNB Posted September 10, 2011 Author Share Posted September 10, 2011 That wouldn't surprise me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bslsux Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 It sounds a little far fetched but it wouldn't surprise me either. They certainly have an agenda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atanquin Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 OMG a bikie MIGHT own ONE pit bull heaven forbid!! and some of those comments they have no idea the difference between a English staffy and an American pit bull some people need to educated themselves before replying to something like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korbin13 Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Wow, is Ms Crawford the work experience student? Surely if, as the HeraldSun, has said on many occasions that there a hundreds of pitbulls running around, why would bikies spend thousands importing more?? 102 'staffies' brought into the country, no indication of breed, were some peoples pets? 29 brought into WA, 31 into NSW last year seems to indicate that NSW actually has the highest number of imports (I know that that was last years numbers). Her story says that WA is the import destination for these 'staffies'. 19 so far in WA this year (highest in Australia), but no mention of how many in any other states (could be 18 in Qld for all we know). Can't believe she was paid to write that and an editor chose to publish it, just embarrassing for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumosmum Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Seems like AQIS and Customs, federal law enforcement officers, are not as smart as Council workers. Councils can spot them and have a standard now, but the professionals can't! Yeah, right. This is a load of crap. I have never seen any reports on dog attacks, where it has been said that the owner of the attacking dog was a bikie! And I am sure if that was the case, we would have heard about it. It would make great headlines, with all the other rubbish that some papers publish. Where do they drag these people from that write this stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumosmum Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Don't be surprised if the next article says that pitbulls are causing global warming. That quite possibly could be the next headline the way things are going at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tybrax Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Seems like AQIS and Customs, federal law enforcement officers, are not as smart as Council workers. Councils can spot them and have a standard now, but the professionals can't! Yeah, right. Makes the Vic Gov look likes idiots...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 pitbulls are responsible for all the bad and evil that is perpetrated on the planet.. from global pollution, terrorism and all manner od criminal activities... oh yeh and throw in a staffy or two as well they are most likely the organisers.. what codswallop.. sadly many people will believe those idiotic comments. i now assume that because i once owned a pitbull than i am now an associate of a bikie gang.., or maybe an ageing bikie moll H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhou Xuanyao Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 (edited) Don't be surprised if the next article says that pitbulls are causing global warming. That quite possibly could be the next headline the way things are going at the moment. yep it wouldn't surprise me. What absolute trash journalism. How better to sell a few papers than to try to consolidate all of peoples different fears. Now it's Pitbulls, and "highly" organized "bikies" involved in a "racket", next the highly organized bikies involved in the Pitbull smuggling racket will be Muslim, then they will be using the Pitbulls to somehow facilitate child pornography and global warming, that's to come in next weeks edition. Edited September 11, 2011 by Lo Pan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeckoTree Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeckoTree Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 (edited) Oh yeah theres 11 staffies missing from the 102 figure, they must have jumped the boat. Edited September 11, 2011 by -GT- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RottnBullies Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Agree this Is an absolute piece of trash! And It wouldn't surprise me at all If this be another of those brain farts GS Is constantly having, the man Is evil, just pure pure evil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DNB Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 I always thought the Herald Sun was only good for one thing! Lining cocky cages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 An associate of the Bandidos bikie gang is known to keep one. Two things get me ... 1) someone is actually paid a full time decent wage to write this crap 2) people are dumb enough to read it and believe it as the truch omg I can't breathe from laughing. It's one step away from the Onion now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogz4eva Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I have read some rubbish from that paper over the years but this crap takes the cake.What a load of shite.I live in WA and if this was so I would give it some creedence but I can categorically tell you this is uninformed dribble at its best.Who is your source Carly?An anonymous tipster bwahhaaa.Do some research.It isnt hard to chase up the people who imported the dogs and check microchip numbers and see if they are ANKC registered and have been shown.Yes more staffs have been brought in becuase they are popular dogs.Also becuase dogs come in here means nothing you have to check avalaibility of space and as there are only 3 quarantine centres maybe they had to come through here becuase of lack of space at the time.Go back and do some study instead of printing rubbish like this.The Bandidos do not even have a presence in this State very very minimal anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Lola Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I always thought the Herald Sun was only good for one thing! Lining cocky cages I have another ......lining crates for pups to piddle on :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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