Dog Community

Denver all over again in the UK

Posted : 2/9/2007 10:45:24 AM

So wrong!

[color=#000000]"----Original Message-----
Subject: [BSLWorkshop] Liverpool Dog Cull Starts In Earnest (UK)

Liverpool Dog Cull Starts In Earnest

The controversial dog amnesty for Liverpool and surrounding areas started
today, with local press reporting hundreds of dogs of being handed over to
the authorities to be humanely put down. Whilst animal welfare groups are
still calling for the amnesty to be stopped, the Chief Constable of
Merseyside Police is preparing to address the public about the issue.

Below is a draught script for a podcast taken from the Merseyside Police
website. In it, Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe discusses the importance
of removing illegal and dangerous dogs from the streets of Merseyside,
whilst ensuring those who own an illegal dog who no longer wish to have the
responsibility of looking after it can hand it in without fear of
prosecution.

In the meantime, the local press are reporting that dogs are being "se!
ized", reflecting that either the publication in question is resorting to
using inaccurate and sensationalist language, or that the forces are
actively taking dogs away from people during the amnesty.
Transcript of Chief Constable Hogan-Howe's speech.

______________________________________________
Hello
The issue of dangerous dog ownership is a national one. However in
Merseyside, on the 1st January, the devastation that they can cause was
brought home to us with the tragic death of Ellie Lawrenson. Ellie was
killed by a pit-bull type dog at her grandparents home.

As a force, Merseyside Police takes the issue of dangerous dogs very
seriously. Weâ€™ve been working with partners in the region to promote
responsible dog ownership. Operation Dogsafe is our long-running initiative,
which aims to educate the public about the legal responsibilities of dog
ownership.

Through this, weâ€™ve also been tackling the anti-social use of dogs.
A 7-day hand-in for dogs banned by breed, is the next step in helping to
protect the public and enabling dog owners to stay within the law.
The hand-in aims to make the streets of Merseyside safer and is for owners
of illegal dangerous dogs. It takes place between the 7th and the 13th
February.

During this time, owners of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act can
hand in their animals to us for humane destruction without fear of
prosecution. Otherwise those found guilty of owning a banned dog by courts
can face penalties of up to a Â£5000 fine and 6 months imprisonment.

There are four types of dog identified as bred specifically for fighting and
made illegal in this country by the legislation. The issue on Merseyside is
with pit-bull terrier types, but the hand in is aimed at people with any of
four breeds of illegal dangerous dogs.

Obviously this is an emotive issue and one that we do not take lightly.
Since the death of Ellie Lawrenson owners of dogs have contacted ourselves
and our partners concerned about their dog and unsure what to do. Some
owners have abandoned their dogs, or handed them in voluntarily.

Our advice is that if you have an illegal dog and no-longer want the
responsibility of owning it, please donâ€™t abandon it, and also, please
donâ€™t
take it to a police station. If you contact us on 0151 709 6010, we will
make arrangements to collect your dog from you.

We, and our partners, the five local authorities, are determined to tackle
this issue and we know the Hand In alone, isnâ€™t going to resolve the
problems that exist.

Following the hand-in period, there will be a targeted enforcement campaign.
We will seek out the owners of illegal dogs kept for fighting or to support
other illegal activities. We will continue to investigate and seek
prosecutions of those who are either unable or unwilling to keep their dogs
under proper control.

We are asking the public to come forward with information about where
illegal dogs are posing a threat to others, being bred for or used in dog
fighting. We are also requesting a careful and considered review of the
legislation, to make sure it is both workable and achieves our aims of
preventing dog attacks causing serious injuries and deaths in the future.

Thank you."
[/color]

Benedict

Posted : 2/9/2007 10:53:38 AM

Ugh. That's all I am going to say. Ugh. [:'(]

Oh, and for the record, since it doesn't say in the article, the 4 breeds of dog banned in the UK are the Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasiliero and the Pit Bull.

Kate

Ratsicles

Posted : 2/9/2007 11:43:54 AM

Terrifying. I already have a pit mix, and in the future, I doubt I'll have anything other than pitties and pit mixes...and I live in fear of this kind of thing happening to me. They've always been my favorite dogs and I can't see life without one...and I could never, ever hand my dog over to anyone knowing they were going to kill him for no freaking reason. I have nightmares about this sort of thing. Sigh. [

]

chewbecca

Posted : 2/9/2007 5:23:25 PM

ORIGINAL: Ratsicles

Terrifying. I already have a pit mix, and in the future, I doubt I'll have anything other than pitties and pit mixes...and I live in fear of this kind of thing happening to me. They've always been my favorite dogs and I can't see life without one...and I could never, ever hand my dog over to anyone knowing they were going to kill him for no freaking reason. I have nightmares about this sort of thing. Sigh. []

Same here. I could not be without a pit or a pit mix in my life from now on.

By the way, I absolutely LOVE your dogs' names.

alieliza

Posted : 2/10/2007 8:54:47 AM

ORIGINAL: chewbecca

ORIGINAL: Ratsicles

Terrifying. I already have a pit mix, and in the future, I doubt I'll have anything other than pitties and pit mixes...and I live in fear of this kind of thing happening to me. They've always been my favorite dogs and I can't see life without one...and I could never, ever hand my dog over to anyone knowing they were going to kill him for no freaking reason. I have nightmares about this sort of thing. Sigh. []

Same here. I could not be without a pit or a pit mix in my life from now on.

By the way, I absolutely LOVE your dogs' names.

Im with you guys.
NYC is fighting BSL as we speak. Not only could I be without my lovely doggy -- though angry politician "eased my mind" that the new law would not affect current owners, but its not just about me and my dog. Its about all the other innocent dogs (and people) that will suffer.... and it restricts me from owning my breed of choice in the future in the city that I love.

Ratsicles, the only thing you can do if BSL comes to you is fight, and if you lose, move.

Doggies in the UK, my heart goes out to you.

**Spread the Word**

Chuffy

Posted : 2/11/2007 12:12:25 PM

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

[color=#000000]The hand-in aims to make the streets of Merseyside safer and is for owners
of illegal dangerous dogs. It takes place between the 7th and the 13th
February.

During this time, owners of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act can
hand in their animals to us for humane destruction without fear of
prosecution. Otherwise those found guilty of owning a banned dog by courts
can face penalties of up to a Â£5000 fine and 6 months imprisonment.[/color]

I don't understand this. As far as I know, from everything I know about the DDA it's not illegal to own a Pit or a "pit bull type" dog. If it was illegal to own a "pit bull type" a great many dog owners would be found guilty - even Dachshunds "score" something like 70 or 80% positive as a "pit bull type".

Pit Bulls *must* be spayed or neutered by law, it is illegal to breed them in this country and they *must* be on a lead and muzzled whenever they are out in public - but there is nothing against owning them. Perhaps the law has recently changed or is about to......

Makes me SICK! What IDIOT writes these laws and thinks up these daft schemes?????

[:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(] [:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]

snownose

Posted : 2/11/2007 12:20:48 PM

Pit Bulls *must* be spayed or neutered by law, it is illegal to breed them in this country and they *must* be on a lead and muzzled whenever they are out in public - but there is nothing against owning them. Perhaps the law has recently changed or is about to......

If it is illegal to breed them how does one go about purchasing one?

Chuffy

Posted : 2/11/2007 12:45:37 PM

For the most part they don't. The last time I saw a dog that was anywhere near like a pit it was at least 2 years ago. It was a pit X staffy puppy. I don't know whether the owner would have been legally obliged to neuter her as she was not a pure bred but if not that is another source for people wanting to own a Pit... they could settle for a cross.

Also, I don't know for sure but I don't think it's illegal to import them. I'll check that.

And no doubt there is underground breeding going on. (I know there is still underground dog fighting going on.)