Ban the breed or not ?

[GSDOWNER]

spreading the word and adding your support. It is not just "pit bulls" targetted by these moves, but other family breeds such as Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Staffies, Mastiffs and Dobermans. YOUR breed could be next!

[GSDOWNER]

Just been sent this by the Deed Not Breed Committee:

Dear fellow rescue supporters

As you will be aware, Dublin council have recently introduced a ban on certain breeds of dogs from all their properties including houses, flats and all estates with immediate effect. This has led to many responsible dog owners being forced to seek rescue places for their beloved pets, or in some cases, having to have their pets put to sleep.

Taken from an article in the Irish press this week –

The council has taken the step to remove all "dangerous breeds" due to the increasing numbers of complaints from tenants and because of the legal implications associated with an attack taking place on one of its properties. The ban initially applies to council housing and all public areas within council estates.

However, the council plans to amend its bylaws to include public parks in the ban. This would mean that anyone owning a dangerous dog could not walk it in a public park, even if they lived in private housing.

The council has also written to the Minister for the Environment asking him to ban all breeds of fighting dogs nationally. The 11 breeds are not banned for general ownership in Ireland but must be muzzled, kept on a special leash and be under the control of a person over 16 years old.

The breeds are: English Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, German Shepherd (Alsatian), Doberman, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Japanese Akita, Bull Mastiff, Japanese Tosa and Bandog. Cross-breeds of these dogs or crosses of these dogs with any other breed are also banned.

We, at DeedNotBreed strongly oppose these moves and have already offered any support we can to the people and rescues in Ireland. We need your help too.

We need to make sure our own government knows we oppose this type of blanket ban across many breeds of dogs and we need to tell them now. Such a ban, if copied in the UK would be disastrous and result in the unnecessary destruction of many dogs.

You could help in many ways. On our website – www.deednotbreed.org.uk has a sample letter to write to your MP to ask for support against Breed Specific Legislation.

Link our website to your own and we will be happy to link back

Write to the Irish government and make your feelings known, but please keep it polite and to the point as an angry letter full of abuse will not encourage them to have a rethink on their new rules.

Pass on our website details to your supporters, or perhaps include it in your newletters or updates

Tell us of any breed rescue shows you will be attending and we may be able to take a stall and tell people how they can help in the fight against breed specific legislation.


Bull Breed types have long been the target for our government and police forces across the UK, but now it appears the net could be spread far wider and many more breeds could be involved in new laws or regulations set by councils.

PLEASE ACT NOW BEFORE OUR GOVERNMENT FOLLOWS IRELANDS LEAD AND BANS OUR PETS FROM COUNCIL OWNED PROPERTIES.


Deed Not Breed Committee

[GSDOWNER]

Petition Now Available!
The petition is now available to sign and has already recieved a good number of signatures. This is one of the best ways we can get our voice heard. Please pass this to anyone you know who agrees with our cause!
Click below to access the petition to the Prime Minister
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/deedNOTbreed/

[GSDOWNER]

Appeal For Funds Deed Not Breed have so far raised all the funds needed to print literature and send letters by asking committee members and volunteers from The Refuge [www.therefuge.org.uk] for help. We are now in a position where we have very little in the bank and need to produce more literature, printing materials etc so are appealing for help. There is a paypal button on this site where you can help if you so wish or we have a NATIONWIDE bank account [please email \n melanie@deednotbreed.org.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for details]

http://www.saynotobsl.org.uk to make a paypal donation

Thanks so much for posting all that Joanne


Deed Not Breed need all the support we can get, not just financial help but people writing to their MP's, Councils etc.

If anyone is able to help please do just give a little time.



I have registered but seem unable to log in

[GSDOWNER]

Dangerous Dogs Act – Information for dog owners:

The Merseyside Police ‘dog amnesty’ will commence on 7th February 2007
and last for seven days. Dog owners in the area are asked to hand over
any dog they feel may be a ‘pit bull type’ of dog to the Police, without
fear of prosecution.

Deed Not Breed would like to make local responsible dog owners aware of
the following:

• You are under no legal obligation to hand over dogs under the Amnesty.
If you do your dog WILL BE DESTROYED.
• If you do not hand over your dog under the Amnesty and it is later
seized, you are under no legal obligation to sign seized dogs over for
destruction. If you sign over ownership of your dog it will be
destroyed. Seek advice immediately.
• If you don’t sign your dog over, you have the right to a Court hearing.
Only a court can order the destruction of your dog. It may be possible for
the Court to order the registration of your dog onto the Index of
Exempted Dogs, proving that he or she poses no threat to the public and
certain requirements can be met. 1000 dogs have been registered this
way since the law was amended in 1997.
• Remain calm and do not panic-you are not alone.
• The law hasn’t changed at all. No one can force you to hand over your
pet dog for destruction, unless by Court Order.
• If you are at all worried about your dog’s behaviour-seek professional
help.

The Kennel Club, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, Association of Pet Dog Trainers
and many other welfare groups and individuals have voiced serious
concerns and oppose the ‘amnesty’.

For further information- please visit: www.deednotbreed.org.uk
Telephone help lines have been organised, they are run and backed by
experienced volunteers who are fully up to date with factual information.
You can also be referred to a solicitor for professional legal advice:
Advice lines: 08700 34 55 62 or 08700 34 55 63
Or tel: 08700 34 55 64 for all Deed Not Breed enquiries

I have got this info from a friend on another site. I have e-mailed them both a letter of, well disgust and shock really and to ask them to re-consider this proposal.

Councillor Kevin Humphreys

cllr_kevin.humphreys@dublincity.ie

+353 087 298 91 03 (M)

+353 01 667 80 97

+353 01 668 68 54 (H)
John Gormley - Minister of the Environment who's got the ultimate responsibility.

Address: Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Custom House, Dublin 1.
Tel: +353 01 888 2403 Fax: +353 01 878 8640 Email: minister@environ.ie

email address johngormley@eircom.net

[LOVEGSD]

I've already signed the petition etc.....I think it's shocking that they would consider all those breeds dangerous and go to such lengths to stop people enjoying owning such great breeds!

It always comes down to a few irresponsible owners ruining it for the majority!

[wildmoor]

I have signed the petition to, if they had enforced their legislation which they introduced in the early nineties then there would be no roaming dogs of these breeds or any other breed.

Having reports like this dont help

The number of people hospitalised for dog attacks has increased by almost 50% in the past decade, according to a new report, commissioned by pet insurer LV=. Nine out of ten (88%) of these attacks required emergency treatment and the average hospital stay after a dog attack is two to three days.

Incidents involving children under the age of nine account for one in five (21%) of all attacks and children often suffer the most serious injuries. The LV= research has found the problem is particularly bad in urban areas. Over the last five years the number of patients under 18 treated for dog bites in London has more than doubled, and in the West Midlands it has risen by 80%.

According to vets the most common breed of dog in the UK that is inclined to be aggressive is the German Shepherd. This is followed by the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweilers and Jack Russells.

According to US data, Pit Bulls are the most likely dog to bite humans, however these are banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act so very few exist. The second most aggressive dog that is likely to attack a human is the Rottweiler, a common breed in the UK that is not mentioned on the Dangerous Dogs Act.

It's not only attacks on humans that are on the increase. One in three (34%) vets have reported an increase in the number of pet owners coming to their practice in the past three years as a result of their dog or other pet being attacked by a dog. Vets tend to an animal injured by a dog three times a month on average. According to the LV= research 33% of current dog owners said their pet had been attacked by another dog.

Practically all vets (96%) interviewed by LV= said they have been asked for advice on training dogs, showing that the vast majority of pet owners take their responsibilities seriously. 63% of vets said the number of owners seeking advice in the past three years had increased. Vets clearly take their advisory role seriously with more than half (56%) saying they have told an owner they need to muzzle their dog and a similar number (54%) have advised that a dog should be put to sleep because of its behavioural issues.

Emma Holyer, Spokesperson for LV= General Insurance, said: "If you are thinking about getting a dog you should do your research to ensure you get the right breed for you and your lifestyle. You should research issues like the amount of walking the breed requires, if the property you live in is suitable, if you have a garden or other pets, plus if you have children, whether the breed is suitable for a family environment."

The report has also highlighted pet owners' concerns about other owners with dangerous dogs. One in four pet owners admits to changing their dog's walking pattern to avoid someone with an aggressive dog and 23% said they worry about their own dog because other dogs in the area are not properly controlled.

It's not just pet owners who have noticed the changes. The report also found that, amongst the general population, 13% of Brits said there had been an increase in the number of ‘aggressive looking' dogs in their area and one in 10 (10%) admitted that some of the animals they see make them feel vulnerable.

The problem is particularly rife in London with a quarter of people (23%) reporting an increase in aggressive dogs in their area and 40% saying that some pet owners in their area don't take adequate responsibility for their animals.