Aust Officials To Kill Pit Bulls, Other 'dangerous' Breeds

[Ruffles]

The Domestic Animal Act, under section 74 (2) gives council officers the explicit right to enter any land or vehicle, by any reasonable means or with any assistance in order to identify if a Dog is registered, or if that dog is a restricted breed. This has been the same for many, many years. You cannot claim 'trespass', nor can you ask them to leave as they are within their rights, under the law.

They cannot however, enter a building that is a residence.

Edited October 1, 2011 by Ruffles

[Tara and Sam]

Words spoken by a Vet this morning

"Today for the first time in 20 years I am questioning if I still want to do this job. My staff and I are all in tears after having to put down our first Pit Bull under the new legislation. He had been dumped, by an owner who had put in the time for this magnificent dog to be friendly to all, shake hands and worse still licked my face with kisses as he passed. To all the friends that I have made in the shelter systems and council officers etc over the years, you have my thoughts with you as you too are forced to apply an unjust law. I have no issue with "bad dogs" and bad owners being labelled, but this is not the way to do it. To the unknown dog that now sleeps in the arms of my staff with our tears, may life make you look different next time because in this life that was your only flaw."

:cry:

That is heartbreaking.

[sandgrubber]

Sickening hope the idiot irresponsible dog owners are proud of themselves.

???

I don't think idiot irresponsible owners intended to bring this on. They were just doing their dumb ass macho bloodthirsty thing without regard to the consequences. If responsible owners had been more involved in enforcing control on those who prefer mean dogs and don't properly train or socialise, this awful mess might have been avoided. Governments generally aren't very smart unless they get input from people on the ground who know what is going on.

[geo]

Sickening hope the idiot irresponsible dog owners are proud of themselves.

???

I don't think idiot irresponsible owners intended to bring this on. They were just doing their dumb ass macho bloodthirsty thing without regard to the consequences. If responsible owners had been more involved in enforcing control on those who prefer mean dogs and don't properly train or socialise, this awful mess might have been avoided. Governments generally aren't very smart unless they get input from people on the ground who know what is going on.

I believe it is a mix and have said many times on here that you only have to look at some of the amstaff breeder adverts on here to see what some of them are breeding and the type they're after.. of course it's going to appeal to the bogan spectrum.

[Little Gifts]

It's a sad, sad day for Victoria and Australia. Death by ignorance.

[sandgrubber]

Sickening hope the idiot irresponsible dog owners are proud of themselves.

???

I don't think idiot irresponsible owners intended to bring this on. They were just doing their dumb ass macho bloodthirsty thing without regard to the consequences. If responsible owners had been more involved in enforcing control on those who prefer mean dogs and don't properly train or socialise, this awful mess might have been avoided. Governments generally aren't very smart unless they get input from people on the ground who know what is going on.

I believe it is a mix and have said many times on here that you only have to look at some of the amstaff breeder adverts on here to see what some of them are breeding and the type they're after.. of course it's going to appeal to the bogan spectrum.

Maybe I'm dense, but I still don't get it. There are 39 Am Staff puppy adverts on DOL today. A few (3 or 4) make a big deal of well muscled and big boned with big heads . . . but I'd find similar language describing Labradors. . . some of those advertizing muscle, head and bone also boast Ch/Gr Ch lines. Some people like dogs with big heads and conspicuous muscle. Not necessarily bogan. One bragging about how heavy their studs are, which seems a little weird, but you'll find odd stuff in puppy ads for any common breed.

[Erny]

Gawd .... It's like there is no where to turn. The Labor Govt heads? Nope. They brought in BSL in the first place. The Liberal Govt? Nope. Seems, regardless of prior encouraging murmurs that indicated their low opinion of their (back then) opposition, they're now satisfied to not only follow in their opposition's foot-steps, but make it even worse.

The Queen of England? Hhhhmmmm ....

[newfsie]

Words spoken by a Vet this morning

"Today for the first time in 20 years I am questioning if I still want to do this job. My staff and I are all in tears after having to put down our first Pit Bull under the new legislation. He had been dumped, by an owner who had put in the time for this magnificent dog to be friendly to all, shake hands and worse still licked my face with kisses as he passed. To all the friends that I have made in the shelter systems and council officers etc over the years, you have my thoughts with you as you too are forced to apply an unjust law. I have no issue with "bad dogs" and bad owners being labelled, but this is not the way to do it. To the unknown dog that now sleeps in the arms of my staff with our tears, may life make you look different next time because in this life that was your only flaw."

:cry:

OMG.... :cry: that is just so sad.....At least that particular dog had someone with him who cared...I can just imagine how some others are PTS

[Maxiewolf]

Its all well and good to say the irresponsible owners brought this on, personally I think a huge amount of the fault/blame should be falling on the councils themselves... so many of these attacks on humans and animals by all these dogs would have been minimalised if their darn rangers where out doing their jobs in the first place.

Remember once upon a time you where scared if your dog got out the "Ranger would git em?" The rangers just needed to be walking around Issuing more in the spot fines for unregistered dogs, off-lead dogs in public places, poorly contained, or controled animals etc etc.... The whole mess has come about by people not being afraid to do the WRONG thing anymore.

The poor bully breeds are just the "easiest" target.... the irrisponsible owners arent suffering here, they are already trolling for their next breed. And a national legislation like this? Its happening in one state and Im already nearly ashamed to be living in this country... cant belive we let this happen in our "lucky" country...

[Law]

This scares me I shouldn't have to worry about my dog being destroyed just because of the way he looks

[Erny]

This scares me I shouldn't have to worry about my dog being destroyed just because of the way he looks

No you shouldn't. Wonder if the Govt would be culpible for "stress" related claims? A law which puts many people in a position where they have absolutely no control over whether they are able to abide by it or not. Surely that's not a law which can be proven tenible by those who bear its weight?

[sumosmum]

Its all well and good to say the irresponsible owners brought this on, personally I think a huge amount of the fault/blame should be falling on the councils themselves... so many of these attacks on humans and animals by all these dogs would have been minimalised if their darn rangers where out doing their jobs in the first place.

Remember once upon a time you where scared if your dog got out the "Ranger would git em?" The rangers just needed to be walking around Issuing more in the spot fines for unregistered dogs, off-lead dogs in public places, poorly contained, or controled animals etc etc.... The whole mess has come about by people not being afraid to do the WRONG thing anymore.

The poor bully breeds are just the "easiest" target.... the irrisponsible owners arent suffering here, they are already trolling for their next breed. And a national legislation like this? Its happening in one state and Im already nearly ashamed to be living in this country... cant belive we let this happen in our "lucky" country...

Totally agree Maxiewolf.

[SpotTheDog]

From the UK, who've had these laws for over 20 years:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/public-leaders-network/blog/2011/sep/30/dangerous-dogs-law-legislation-debate

Beware of the law when it comes to dangerous dogs

Campaigners say the Dangerous Dogs Act is 'irrational' and want the legislation to be changed. But how can the animals be protected while ensuring pet owners are held to account? Rowenna Davis reports on a recent debate

In a rare consensus among police, courts and charities, almost all experts agree that the current laws designed to deal with dangerous dogs should be scrapped. The legislation in mind is the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. Brought in quickly after a spate of attacks, it has been described as "knee jerk and reactionary" by a dog welfare charity.

The statistics seem to confirm the perceived shortcomings of the act: rates of dog attacks and dog seizures are on the rise; the Communications Workers Union estimates that 6,000 postal workers are attacked by dogs every year; and according to latest figures, the NHS is spending £2.7m annually treating victims of dog bites.

In the wake of this summer's riots, the problem of "status dogs" is also being linked to challenges in the country's inner cities. Animals are being trained to fight, defend and impress, as owning a potentially lethal dog becomes linked to security and social standing.

The suitability of the legislation to deal with such challenges was the topic of a recent roundtable debate, which was hosted by the Guardian and sponsored by Dogs Trust and the British Veterinary Association (BVA). The discussion was held under the Chatham House rule, which allows comments to be reported without attribution to encourage a frank debate.

"It's not worth the paper it's written on," said one participant, kickstarting the discussion in no uncertain terms. "It's hurriedly produced, it fails to make people safe, it blames the dog but asks the owner to do nothing, it takes up useful resources and it's detrimental to animal welfare. I've lost track of the number of times I've raised these issues with ministers. Something needs to be done."

In particular, campaigners dislike section one of the act, which outlaws certain breeds, such as pit bull terriers, and calls for them to be destroyed. "Banning breeds inevitably makes them more desirable for the wrong kind of person," said one contributor. "Pit bulls and Staffie crosses are now so common that people are inevitably moving on to the next thing – huskies, molosos, presca canarios. We can't add every dog to a banned list. We need to look at why people are getting these dogs."

Outlawed breeds

There is also the major issue of animal welfare. Hundreds of dogs have been put down under section one of the act – not because they have any record of wrongdoing, but simply because their breed is outlawed. The cost of this is enormous. According to a debate in the Lords, the Metropolitan police has spent £3m in 10 years trying to kennel dogs that are thought to be pit bulls. Nor is there any room for discretion, the roundtable was told: any officer who fails to take action against a suspected illegal breed can be punished for aiding and abetting. If the dog doesn't go, the officer will.

Another problem with the 1991 act is that it doesn't apply on private property. No matter how irresponsible the dog owner, they can only be prosecuted if the attack happens on public land. This is particularly difficult for postal workers who are legally obliged to deliver mail to every home in the country, as well as midwives and other public servants.

One contributor remembered a colleague falling victim with no recourse to justice. "He was attacked by two dogs, and it carried on for 20 minutes. He was left severely disabled for life. It wasn't tested whether it occurred on public or private land. In the end it was thrown out of court and no charges were brought."

In another odd legal twist, the only legislation that can be used to seek redress in cases such as these – and in dog-on-dog attacks – dates from 1871. This legislation can force dogs that perpetrate attacks on private property to be destroyed but, because it is not a criminal law, there is still no recourse against the owner. The fact that there is no requirement for dog owners to take out insurance means that even if a prosecution is obtained, there may be no resources available to compensate victims.

Campaigners are pushing for alternatives. They want the law to be extended to private property under a new principle. Under the banner "deed not breed", they argue that dogs should be punished on the basis of their behaviour, not their type. Most people who deal with dogs seem to agree. Eighty-eight per cent of people responding to government consultation said that they didn't think that breed-specific legislation was effective at keeping the public safe.

In March 2010, the home secretary at the time, Alan Johnson, launched a consultation on the back of campaigning efforts. It received 4,250 responses, but participants are still waiting for a formal response from the present government. David Cameron has promised to deal with the issue, but exactly how remains unanswered. It doesn't help that the issue falls between Defra – the department for the environment – and the Home Office.

One contributor to the roundtable was pessimistic over the prospect of government action: "The signals are coming out quite clearly. It [dangerous dogs legislation] is likely to be added to antisocial behaviour legislation, a Cinderella policy that could be rolled into a whole raft of other issues, and could take years to implement... It's a sign of political timidity on behalf of the government."

But politicians remain wary of relaxing the law when certain breeds are still perceived as dangerous and strike fear on the streets, the roundtable heard. Other organisations, including the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), remain committed to the ban, not necessarily because dogs like pit bulls are intrinsically designed to attack but because, if they do turn violent, the damage they can inflict is disproportionately bad.

Some authorities are sick of waiting for Westminster to act. The roundtable was told of one borough in south London where all council tenants who own a dog are required to register their pet with the council and have it microchipped, or they risk eviction. Since the free microchipping service was introduced in 2009, 4,000 dogs have been registered and the council says the scheme encourages parents of young dog-owners to take responsibility for their children's pets. Although no tenants have been evicted so far – and authorities insist that it's "an absolute last resort" – there are currently two residents who are refusing to comply.

Such regulation has won high-profile support. Dogs Trust has started the Microchipping Alliance, bringing together a number of welfare charities, veterinary organisations and dog wardens to speak with one voice on this issue. They argue that microchipping is minimal to the lifetime cost of owning a dog – it costs between £5 and £30 – and saves local authorities money on kennelling stray dogs. It is already massively popular on the continent, with nearly half of all EU countries now electronically identifying dogs.

However, one participant said that microchipping ran the risk of "criminalising 2 million dog owners" for simply failing to comply. But it was pointed out that microchipping is part of responsible dog ownership, and also that, as a one-off cost that benefits the owner, it is a better alternative to the dog licence, which some would like to see brought back.

Part of the problem is that microchips can only do so much to help and will not solve the underlying social causes, the debate heard. Status dogs often appear in some of the poorest parts of the country's inner cities. Dogs might be bred and sold for much-needed income or walked on the street for protection.

There was a consensus at the roundtable that any policy on dogs must be seen in context and introduced in partnership with supporting social agencies, with an emphasis on education and prevention. As one contributor put it: "What do you tell a kid who looks to their dog to protect them in a knife fight? How do you make a microchip sexy? We have to figure out how to connect." One solution, it was suggested, is to invest more time and resources into engaging with disadvantaged status-dog owners, through projects such as the advice service City Dogs.

Implementation and enforcement are also key issues, and one participant called for any new legislation to be made a "statutory duty" for local authorities. This would certainly help the inconsistency under the present system. Dealing with dangerous dogs might be a priority for some councils but others, such as Bedfordshire, don't even have a dedicated officer on the case, the roundtable was told. Without ringfenced budgets, campaigners are worried that dog wardens will be some of the first to go when local authorities make cuts.

But there are no signs of them giving up. In the past, the roundtable heard, there has been a concern that campaigners have been divided. Now they are coming together. Believing they now have highprofile political backing, they are turning their attention to letter-writing campaigns, social-networking projects and alliances are growing. As one participant put it, the aim is to "light as many fires under as many places as possible".

In focus

There is a consensus that the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 is in need of reform. It is considered unsafe, inefficient and detrimental to animal welfare. Campaigners want to extend the act to cover private property. At present, owners can only be prosecuted if attacks occur on public land. Most campaigners want to see dog owners prosecuted for their pets' behaviour rather than their type. This is known as the "deed not breed" principle. It's more controversial than the extension of the law to private property.

Most feel microchipping could be a good way to encourage responsibility, although there are concerns about liberty. Issues around education, prevention, implementation and resources also need to be discussed.

At the table

Terry Kirby (Chair), journalist

Harvey Locke, president, British Veterinary Association

Angela Smith, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge

Trevor Cooper, solicitor, Doglaw

Sheila Crispin, past-president, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Mark Callis, dog control service manager, Parks Police and Dog Control, Wandsworth council

Peter Chapman, sentencing committee, Magistrates' Association

Kendal Shepherd, veterinary behaviour specialist, Association of Pet Behaviour Consultants

David Cowdrey, head of policy and campaigns, Guide Dogs

Dave Joyce, national health, safety and environment officer, Communications Workers Union

Keith Evans, dog legislation officer, Association of Chief Police Officers

Clarissa Baldwin, chief executive officer, Dogs Trust

Laura Vallance, public affairs manager, Dogs Trust

Mary Creagh, shadow secretary of state, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Sally Burnell, head of media and public relations, British Veterinary Association

This roundtable report was commissioned by Seven Plus and controlled by the Guardian. The discussion was hosted to a brief agreed with, and paid for, by Dogs Trust and BVA. Contact Wendy Miller on 020-3353 2347. For information on roundtables visit: guardian.co.uk/sponsored-content

This article is published by Guardian Professional. Join the Guardian Public Leaders Network free to receive regular emails on the issues at the top of the professional agenda.

[german_shep_fan]

This scares me I shouldn't have to worry about my dog being destroyed just because of the way he looks

Agreed! Both the dogs in your pic are beautiful! I worry for my breed too. All of these big "aggressive" breeds are starting to be seriously targeted by media and public for the actions of a very slim few!

[zuri]

This scares me I shouldn't have to worry about my dog being destroyed just because of the way he looks

Agreed! Both the dogs in your pic are beautiful! I worry for my breed too. All of these big "aggressive" breeds are starting to be seriously targeted by media and public for the actions of a very slim few!

GSD's have a too large support base to be messed with also they rarely appear in serious attacks for my opinion like most ANKC recognised breeds are quite safe. Bearing in mind the poor old Pitty is a restricted breed anyway and has been import restricted for many years, big difference policing a restricted breed than banning a recognised breed of high popularity.

[moosmum]

Zuri,

Thats a common attitude.Sorry to say tho' that because of the hysteria regarding dog attacks,local councills in many area are coming down very hard on any "Large" dog with a complaint against it no matter how minor.Not just in Victoria either.

Muzzles to worn in public at all times from puppy hood etc.Dogs automaticaly seized and destroyed for ANY bite reported.Even when that bite is accidental.

A dog pt after the muzzle she was forced to wear all her life at the dog park came off and she finaly managed to grab one of those out of controll SWFies. Her jaws closed on her owners hand when it was released and that was enough for council and the (either vindictive or frightened)owner of the SWF.Who incidentaly,HAD attacked 2 other dogs unprovoked.

Lots of other incidenst comming to light,not always with such serious out comes,but way too often it is.

They may not be ready to ban out right other breeds,buts they can make life very hard and dangerous for them anyway.And they are.

The planned rallies are a huge step and can do a lot for all dog owners if we support them.

Edited October 2, 2011 by moosmum

[Greytmate]

Zuri,

Thats a common attitude.Sorry to say tho' that because of the hysteria regarding dog attacks,local councills in many area are coming down very hard on any "Large" dog with a complaint against it no matter how minor.Not just in Victoria either.

Muzzles to worn in public at all times from puppy hood etc.Dogs automaticaly seized and destroyed for ANY bite reported.Even when that bite is accidental.

A dog pt after the muzzle she was forced to wear all her life at the dog park came off and she finaly managed to grab one of those out of controll SWFies. Her jaws closed on her owners hand when it was released and that was enough for council and the (either vindictive or frightened)owner of the SWF.Who incidentaly,HAD attacked 2 other dogs unprovoked.

Lots of other incidenst comming to light,not always with such serious out comes,but way too often it is.

They may not be ready to ban out right other breeds,buts they can make life very hard and dangerous for them anyway.And they are.

The planned rallies are a huge step and can do a lot for all dog owners if we support them.

What dogs besides restricted breeds and greyhounds wear a muzzle from puppyhood? Which council is automatically seizing and destroying dogs? It sounds like you are making this up, but if you are not, you need to provide more information.

If a dog bites it may be declared dangerous, but it will only be seized and euthanised if it's owner refuses to pay the fines, if they refuse to keep it as required, or if the dog is a repeat offender.

The new laws are bad enough without the needless scaremongering.

[Horse2008]

What dogs besides restricted breeds and greyhounds wear a muzzle from puppyhood? Which council is automatically seizing and destroying dogs? It sounds like you are making this up, but if you are not, you need to provide more information.

If a dog bites it may be declared dangerous, but it will only be seized and euthanised if it's owner refuses to pay the fines, if they refuse to keep it as required, or if the dog is a repeat offender.

The new laws are bad enough without the needless scaremongering.

mmm, my collie was seized and euthanized for ONE NIP. I didn't refuse to pay the fine(I have paid it) I wasn't told I was required to keep him in a certain way to have him returned and he was a 23 month old puppy that I'd had for under 2 months when this 'incident' occurred.

This isn't scaremongering, it's the truth!

PS - My staffy x is also required to wear a muzzle when off the property. She didn't bite, but she's 'menacing' according to Monash Council.

Edited October 3, 2011 by Horse2008

[Greytmate]

What dogs besides restricted breeds and greyhounds wear a muzzle from puppyhood? Which council is automatically seizing and destroying dogs? It sounds like you are making this up, but if you are not, you need to provide more information.

If a dog bites it may be declared dangerous, but it will only be seized and euthanised if it's owner refuses to pay the fines, if they refuse to keep it as required, or if the dog is a repeat offender.

The new laws are bad enough without the needless scaremongering.

mmm, my collie was seized and euthanized for ONE NIP. I didn't refuse to pay the fine(I have paid it) I wasn't told I was required to keep him in a certain way to have him returned and he was a 23 month old puppy that I'd had for under 2 months when this 'incident' occurred.

This isn't scaremongering, it's the truth!

PS - My staffy x is also required to wear a muzzle when off the property. She didn't bite, but she's 'menacing' according to Monash Council.

I wouldn't believe a single word you say.

[aussielover]

What dogs besides restricted breeds and greyhounds wear a muzzle from puppyhood? Which council is automatically seizing and destroying dogs? It sounds like you are making this up, but if you are not, you need to provide more information.

If a dog bites it may be declared dangerous, but it will only be seized and euthanised if it's owner refuses to pay the fines, if they refuse to keep it as required, or if the dog is a repeat offender.

The new laws are bad enough without the needless scaremongering.

mmm, my collie was seized and euthanized for ONE NIP. I didn't refuse to pay the fine(I have paid it) I wasn't told I was required to keep him in a certain way to have him returned and he was a 23 month old puppy that I'd had for under 2 months when this 'incident' occurred.

This isn't scaremongering, it's the truth!

PS - My staffy x is also required to wear a muzzle when off the property. She didn't bite, but she's 'menacing' according to Monash Council.

I wouldn't believe a single word you say.

Umm, if your dog nips someone, that is grounds enough for it to be declared a dangerous dog should the person "injured" decide to report it.

A dog "rushing" another person is enough to be declared dangerou or menacing.