15.07.05
From: David Levy
Subject: Dangerous Dogs in France
Dear Madame Balland
I have been advised by my friends in France that the new Minister, M. Sarkozy is considering extending the list of breeds subject to special regulations in France. In particular, that he is planning to include the Staffordshire Bull Terrier amongst the listed breeds. Having communicated with the Ministry in 2001, I cannot understand why the Minister should now be considering any changes to add further breeds to the list.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. It is now the 5th most popular registered breed at the Kennel Club in London and recently topped a poll carried out by a major UK animal charity to be voted the most popular pet breed too. A study by Southampton University in 1986 identified the Staffordshire Bull Terrier amongst the top 10 breeds specifically suited to living with young children.
Apart from Germany and Toronto in Canada, I am unaware of any other area where the Staffordshire Bull Terrier has been subjected to any restrictions and in both of these cases, the relevant authorities have admitted that there is zero evidence that the breed is any threat to the public.
Estimates vary but there are currently thought to be at least 250,000 Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the UK and although there are bound to be some incidents of misbehaviour, the breed is considered not to be a threat to the public by the Government, RSPCA, British Veterinary Association, police or any other major animal organisation. Last year I was invited to lecture to the Metropolitan Police Dog Handler College so as to enable their officers to better understand the history and background of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Many well known Britons own or have owned Staffordshire Bull Terriers including several current and former cabinet ministers, barristers, police officers and sportsmen. This is hardly the characteristic of a dangerous dog and it seems quite absurd that the Minister should now – with no new evidence before him – suddenly decide to add our breed to the list of dangerous dogs in France.
It is in fact, completely against all the evidence produced across the World showing that “breed” is only a very minor factor in dog aggression anyway. The whole concept of breed specific legislation is actually counter-productive in the both the UK and France and this is epitomised by the number of cases where BSL has been overturned in the USA once it has proven to be ineffective.
I urge you to advise against the Minister’s plan. It is not just and it is not founded on any evidence pointing to a threat to the French public from Staffordshire Bull Terriers. It will certainly do nothing to improve Anglo-French relations but will remove the great joy of Staffords from many law-abiding French citizens.
Yours sincerely
David B Levy
(Kennel Club Breed Liaison Officer for Staffordshire Bull Terriers)