Britain’s Ban on Pit Bulls Extended to Previously Legal Breeds

Britain’s Ban on Pit Bulls Extended to Previously Legal Breeds




March 26, 2009 by Alison Green
An anti breed specific legislation group has reacted in horror to
the confirmation that previously legal dog breeds and cross breeds are
to be caught up in the net designed to outlaw ‘Pit Bull Terrier
type dogs’.
Legislators in the UK have put together a piece of law which will
ban previously legal breeds and cross breeds. The bill will, it is
promised, see Britain free from dog attacks by ‘the dangerous dog
breeds’.
Legislators behind the bill claim it will “eradicate the more
dangerous dogs that can inflict injury upon children” and will
better protect the public from serious, fatal dog attacks. They go on
to set out the grounds of the new bill and exactly which dogs could
fall foul of the new legislation.
Any dog weighing in excess of 20kgs.
Any dog in excess of 16” of height to the shoulder.
Dogs carrying liver, black, white or brindle markings.
The bill will not take in to account parentage, breed or DNA
profiles. Any dog weighing over 20kgs or taller than 16” to the
shoulder could be banned. It is acts regardless of the behaviour
exhibited by the dog meaning any dog that fits the criteria above will
be in breach of the new bill. Any dog who falls within the above
criteria must be neutered, tattooed, chipped and kept on lead and
muzzled at all times in public. Owners must also ensure their dog is
covered by special third party liability insurance.
The bill also makes it illegal to be in possession of, sell, give
away, allow to stray or advertise an un-exempted dog fitting the
illegal criteria. Owners in breach of the law will find themselves
liable for prosecution, which could lead to a fine, criminal record and
up to six months in prison. The dog will also be seized and destroyed.
With the bill finalised the authorities will spend millions of
pounds building up teams to enforce the law and ensure dangerous dogs
are taken and destroyed. For those who may be affected by the new
legislation the following information may be useful.
Still reading?
I’ll bet you are.
The bill I’m talking about is actually the 1991 Dangerous Dogs
Act. It’s not new. We’ve had it for a while. And I
apologise if it caused you to gulp as a result of the manner in which I
presented it.
Your dogs aren’t illegal. Well not most of them anyway. Some
of you may have a dog that someone pushes into “pit bull
type” and sadly you’re not safe.
But I am willing to bet some people’s hearts were a flutter.
Welcome to the world of anyone who owns a dog that *might* catch the
attention of an over zealous DDA enforcer who sees a large, shall we
say for example, Staffy x Boxer and decides he’d better nab it
and get it off the streets ‘just in case’.
If that seems cruel, indiscrimnate and likely to tear people’s lives apart, it’s because it is and it does.
So technically, and make no mistake about this, previously legal
(and still legal) breeds and cross breeds ARE being caught up in the
vicious ‘pit bull net’.
How cruel it is to tell people their dog’s illegal because
it’s a bit tall or a bit heavy. But remember that lump you had in
your throat for a moment back then, thinking it might be your dog about
to get caught in the DDA dragnet, that’s the daily life for many
owners of perfectly legal dogs as they live in fear. Fear about walking
their dog. Fear about taking their dog to the vets. Fear every time the
door is knocked. And why? For no other reason other than they own a dog
which happens to look a certain way.
Good people, just like you, the person reading this, have their dogs
removed because it doesn’t look right. You may be a little bit
hacked off at me right about now but you know what? Be grateful you got
a second chance to own your pet without fear. BSL is similar to cancer.
It spreads. If you want to keep a hold of your feeling of security help
repeal the law. It’s not your dog today and in all probability it
won’t be your dog tomorrow, but someone’s dog is going to
be taken and someone else’s dog will lose its life - purely
because of how it looks. This can’t go on.
BSL HAS GOT TO GO AND GO NOW!
Author Details
Alison is a long time dog owner and dangerous dog legislation observer
who lives with her family and four Bull Breed dogs in Sussex. - See this author's webpage

Fookin hell, this scared the life out of me....still does and I've read it twice.

bloody hell i got shivers reading that!!.... that is very scary

it is so true though and I feel so sad and sorry for the owners and their dogs that have had this done to them something needs to be done

Holy s**t! How frightening. The police state is just around the corner folks!

slynico wrote:

Holy s**t! How frightening. The police state is just around the corner folks!

Theres a repeal in Ohio at the minute. They are trying to ban BSL. Hopefully this all goes well and we have a domino effect

yeh lets hope so

it'll be about 20 years by the time this country gets up to speed

By which time everything that has fur, four legs & a waggy tail will have been banned!

probably bev

Unfortunately :wqq:

this is what i kept trying to state to langhaar wen she was telling me all about the DDA and how my dog is illigal ect ect as it states "type" not actual breed

Yeah, its not difficult to understand is it? Its worded clearly enough

I find it difficult to understand thats its legal though (the DDA, not Dillan)