Staffordshire Bull Terriers U.K.

The Duchy of Luxembourg has announced their intention to introduce Breed
Specific dog law banning several breeds including the "STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER"
which has already been drafted and is expected to be implemented with the next 6
to 9 months "with the assistance of the police and veterinary authorities".

As usual, this government is making the simple error of assuming that dogs are
dangerous because of what they look like and, perhaps some of the owners that
they attract, rather than considering the real and scientifically proven fact
that ANY dog CAN be dangerous, irrespective of its breed. Equally, that the vast
majority of dogs of any breed are well adjusted family pets bringing tremendous
benefits of health and companionship.

It is as yet unclear whether the law is intended to mean the American
STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER or the "STAFFORDSHIRE Bull TERRIER". The same error was
originally made by the French Government although they were eventually prevailed
upon to clarify their position and explicitly excluding the SBT from their laws.

The penalties range from 251 to 20,000 Euros (£175 to £13,500) AND imprisonment
from 8 days to 2 years and the law explicitly warns tourists that the penalties
apply to anyone bringing a proscribed dog across any border into their country.

I will be writing to the authorities there in much the same way as we wrote to
France, explaining about our breed and trying to explain where they can get real
facts about dogs and the threat from dogs and just why ANY breed specific
legislation is actually counter-productive in protecting the public.
Unfortunately, it is possible that they will be swayed by the German authorities
with whom they have close links and so, as has long been predicted, the
arrogance and ignorance of a few influential politicians in Germany may again be
about to spread their nonsense to other parts of Europe.

Anyone wishing to contact the Luxembourg authorities should write to the Prime
Minister and to the Ministry of Agriculture.
   M. Jean-Claude Juncker
   Le Premier ministre et Ministère d'Etat
   4, rue de la Congrégation
   L-1352 Luxembourg

   M. Fernand Boden
   Ministère de l'Agriculture, de la Viticulture et du Développement Rural
   1, rue de la Congrégation
   L - 1352 Luxembourg

As usual, please be polite and sensitive to the fact that such people are
usually acting through ignorance of dog matters rather than any spite. A single
aggressive or rude letter from outside their country is almost bound to do more
damage to the cause of dog owners than 100 careful letters explaining the
scientific evidence and/or the personal experience of life with our dogs and the
benefits they offer to us as individuals and as a society.

David Levy