Are Pit Bull Terriers always a dangerous dog?
Are Pit Bull Terriers truly a dangerous breed which deserves to be outlawed? Or, is legislation which singles out such breeds for condemnation the canine equivalent of racism, an argument increasingly levelled against such laws?
Originally the Kennel Club itself helped draft the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which outlawed a number of breeds, including several which are regarded as having been bred deliberately for fighting. The legislation was drafted in the wake of a number of serious attacks on humans.
However in more recent times the Kennel Club, which sets breed standards in the UK, has committed a u-turn and is highly critical of ‘breed specific legislation’, saying the focus on preventing attacks should be on responsible ownership - not on the breed of the dog.
However even the Kennel Club acknowledges that different breeds of dogs have common temperaments.
Its advice on “Finding the right pedigree dog breed” directs buyers to consider whether they want a breed that is “friendly” to cats and other dogs or “incompatible” with them.
“Some dogs are bred for looks, others for their working ability, and the result is that you get a whole range of temperaments in between,” it advises.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier which attacked Eoin Toal on Saturday, is often confused and interbred with Pit Bulls. Although it is lawful to own, The Kennel Club describes it as “renowned for his courage, which unfortunately can lead him into bad ways with other dogs owing to his tendency to ‘get his retaliation in first’”. The club also says the ‘Staffie’ is kind with people has a “genuine love of children”.
The Pit Bull Terrier can be difficult to define as even UK government guidance acknowledges. Some key points are that its legs and back should all be a similar length, giving a ‘square’ shape when viewed from the side. Its head should appear to be wedge shaped when viewed from the side and top but rounded from the front.
However in recent years, deliberate attempts have been made to get around the law by crossing the breed with the smaller Staffordshire Bull Terriers. The resulting ‘new’ breeds are described as ‘Staffie Cross’, Staffie-Lab Cross’, ‘Irish Staffordshire Bull Terriers’ or ‘Long Legged Irish Staffie’.
As even the Kennel Club admits: “If you believe you have a so-called ‘Irish’ Staffordshire Bull Terrier then it is possible you have a pit bull type dog and will face the same threat of seizure and prosecution as pit bull dog owners.”
Increasing attempts have been made to defend Pit Bulls in Northern Ireland courts, with experts being brought in to argue that individual dogs are not aggressive. However some assert that the current legislation outlaws the breed, and does not actually allow for such a legal defence.
A spokesman for the USPCA said: “Some dogs are so specialised in their temperament that they require equally specialised handling. Neutering a Pit Bull may go some way towards reducing their aggression but we would not like to see them roaming the streets, for the safety of people and other animals. They are still illegal to own”.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
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