UK authorities and "dangerous dogs"
I have recently attended two meetings involving problems being encountered again with large aggressive dogs in the hands of criminals. In both cases I was part of the Kennel Club delegation.
The first, at DEFRA, was to review proposed literature to be issued to Port Authorities as a guide to what dogs are allowed to be imported into the UK under the Pet Passport scheme. We made several suggested changes and all of them were accepted and incorporated into the document which has now been published both on the web and in printed form. In my opinion, while we do not approve of Breed Specific Legislation, it is necessary to continue to protect other dogs from being affected by such laws inadvertently.
The second meeting was at New Scotland Yard and was to review a growing trend amongst criminal elements to import, breed and fight large aggressive dogs that they believe are exempt from the "type" clause in the DDA. By getting hunting dogs from around the World they claim these are different breeds to those already restricted. While the Police do not want to try and get the DDA extended to include these breeds (thank heavens), they are aware that the sort of incidents that led to the DDA in the first place are already beginning to occur.
We saw film of one such incident where a group of teenagers had two such dogs loose on a city street corner which quickly turned and attacked a GSD that was being walked nearby - on a lead - by its owner.
Those present, which included representatives from most of the major animal organisations as well as barristers, enforcement agencies, etc. had different views and interpretations of the best way forward and there will be further meetings in an attempt to agree a common policy.
I cannot stress enough that the vast majority of dog owners and especially SBT owners in the UK are thoroughly opposed to anyone using their dogs for fighting, intimidation or as a "macho status symbol" but we must accept that there are a tiny minority who do and that such people (and I stress "people") need to be controlled. It is my belief that previous attempts to deal with this serious social issue have been too focused on the dogs involved and I shall be hoping to persuade the group that we need to address the solution to the irresponsible and criminal owners rather than their dogs.
I want to be safe to walk my Staffords along the street without fear that some lunatic will allow their dog(s) to attack them. We need laws, and we need to see them implemented properly, that curtail the behaviour that leads to such incidents.
I was pleased to hear that Government is seriously considering substantially increasing the penalties for organised dog fighting in the UK and I for one, will absolutely agree with that. As far as I am concerned, "lock 'em up and throw away the key". I trust that other Stafford owners will consider it theirduty to make representation to their own MP to support any such move.
David Levy