15.07.05
Subject: PLEASE DO NOT OUTLAW THE STAFFORSHIRE BULL TERRIER
Dear Madame Balland.It has been brought to the UK Kennel Club's attention that the new
Agriculture Minister, Monsieur Sarkozy, is considering adding the
Staffordshire Bull Terrier to the French 'Dangerous Dog' Legislation. This
would be a mistake.The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is the fifth most popular breed in the UK and
is referred to as the 'nanny dog' for being particularly good with children.
There has been a Staffordshire Bull Terrier Agility display at Crufts and
many of the breed visit schools, hospitals and care homes as registered
'Pets As Therapy' dogs. The genetic link between the Staffordshire Bull
Terrier and Pit Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier is very
vague, as the Pit Bull Terrier is a mixture of various breeds and this type
of dog was specifically developed in America. When the despicable practice
of dog fighting was outlawed in the UK in the 1800s, bull terrier breeds
were developed for showing and companionship, with a strong onus placed on
an even temperament and are considered to be ideal family pets in the UK.The UK has it's own 'dangerous dog' legislation in the form of the Dangerous
Dogs Act (DDA) 1991.The Kennel Club is the Secretariat for the Dog
Legislation Advisory Group (DLAG) and members include the Royal Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(RSPCA), Dogs Trust, British Veterinary
Association and the Blue Cross. The Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group has
evolved from the DLAG and specific members of this group are the Kennel
Club, RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs Home, the National Dog Wardens
Association and the Metropolitan Police Service. The Group meets regularly
to discuss the inadequacies of the DDA, with a view to then making
representations to Government and suggesting ways that the current Act could
be amended or even rewritten.All organisations agree that the DDA is currently unworkable, as breed
specific legislation is not the solution. Furthermore, all agree that a
large percentage of dog biting incidents are due to the irresponsible
actions of owners, who have either not taken the time and trouble to train
their dog correctly, or have indeed trained them to become aggressive. The
slogan 'Deal with the deed, not breed' has been adopted by the Group, as
clearly it is not fair to proscribe against an entire breed, for the actions
of individual dogs.Evidence from all over the world demonstrates the failure of Breed Specific
Legislation to significantly affect any possible threat to the public and in
contrast actually deflects both the pubIic and enforcement agencies away
from the right and proper measures needed to identify and restrict the
activities of a few criminal or careless owners.The Dog Legislation Advisory Group will continue to lobby Government to
place stronger restrictions on owners should they allow their dogs to bite,
but we do not see breed specific legislation as the solution. Man's best
friend learns from us, therefore it is up to us, as dog owners, to be fully
responsible for our dogs individual actions.We urge Monsieur Sarkozy not to add the Staffordshire Bull Terrier to the
'dangerous dog' list and to consider the evidence demonstrated by the
continuing popularity of the breed in the United Kingdom and throughout the
world as to their trustworthy and safe nature when properly owned and
controlled by law-abiding citizens. Further, we would respectfully request
that Monsieur Sarkozy considers the genuine facts and evidence before
effectively phasing out this wonderful breed and thus distressing thousands
of family pets and their owners in France.If you would like to discuss this issue further please do not hesitate to
contact the Kennel Club. If you require further information on dangerous dog
legislation you may also wish to go to www.dominodogs.org.Yours sincerely
PhilPhil Buckley
External Affairs Manager
The Kennel Club
020 7518 1020
pbuckley@the-kennel-club.org.uk