Staffordshire Bull Terriers U.K. K.C. Liaison Officer SBT

I have received confirmation of news from Lower Saxony of changes to their State laws relating to dogs. In fact the proposal, which has had a successful first reading in their parliament seems to be a formula that could and should be looked at in other countries. "any dog who is conspicuously aggressive" addresses the problem of a dangerous animal far more effectively than dealing with its looks.

When the new law proposal was written, the parties in power here (CDU and FDP) asked Mr. J. Rissman (Nat. VDH Board) and Rudi (Lower Saxony VDH) to come and read it over and make any suggestions before it was read in Parliament. One politician there said, yes, if we get rid of the breed list then the dog bites will increase (the inept thinking of politicians is never ending)...Rudi countered with, 'As long as there are any dogs in Germany, you will always have dog bites.' The politician replied, 'Well, yes, I guess you are right'.

The first reading was yesterday...now they have summer vacation and the second reading in Sept. with the new Lower Saxony Dog Law (no longer Fighting Dog Law) will be in power on Oct. 1st, 2003.

Main points:
The breed list will be thrown out plus the comment 'those dogs of the same type as pitbull' and is replaced with 'any dog who is conspiciously aggressive' and if deemed so, must take a temperament test. (absolutely fair). Also removed is the word 'breed' and 'other types of breeds', where ever it was in the old law.

Cathie