What is Breed Specific Legislation
(BSL)?
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BSL is any legislation that targets a breed of dog, based
on the actions of a few members of that breed (or suspected
crosses).
This may range from automatically declaring an entire breed
"dangerous" and placing restrictions on their ownership,
up to current proposals to ban entire breeds and completely
eradicate them from our society.
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BSL does not consider the individual dog, its past actions
and behaviour, or even the way the dog has been raised and
treated by its owner. Just being of the "wrong"
breed is all it takes - the dog is assumed to be guilty until
proven innocent!
Every dog has the potential to bite - regardless of breed.
It is up to us, as responsible owners, to raise our
dogs correctly, so they can become valuable members of our
community.
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Your Breed Could Be Next!
It may not be your breed under threat today, but if banning
of breeds under BSL takes hold then your breed is certainly
at risk.
Banning a handful of breeds on the notion that they are "dangerous"
will not stop dog attacks, and does nothing to address responsible
dog ownership. Rather, the removal of one breed from society
will simply turn the spotlight onto others. Once started,
where will the banning stop? |
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Education is the Key
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Australia is not the first country to consider banning
entire breeds of dogs - but Australia is ignoring the
results in other countries, where the introduction of BSL
has failed to achieve any significant decrease in dog attacks.
Rather than banning entire breeds, education has proven
to be the key to success in other countries - in one case
resulting in the reduction of dog attacks by almost 50% in
just 2 years! |
It is time dog owners were put in the spotlight - dog owners
must be educated on responsible dog ownership, and held accountable
for the actions of their dog.
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AVA Calls for Urgent Injection of Funds to Implement Animal Control
Legislation
AVA - Media Release, Tuesday 3rd May 2005
The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is today urging State
and Local Governments Australia-wide to find adequate resources
in order to effectively implement legislation for control of dangerous
dogs.
In response to a spate of recent dog attacks, Dr Norm Blackman,
National President of the AVA says State Governments already have
a good legislative framework for managing the problem of dangerous
dogs but Local Governments are unable to properly implement it.
"In NSW where the latest incidents have occurred, the legislation
is excellent but the capacity of Local Governments to manage it
is the main problem," says Dr Blackman.
"While there are occasional incidents of dog attacks involving
a dog that is normally well behaved and which has a responsible
owner, the vast majority of serious dog attacks involve irresponsible
behaviour on the part of the owner resulting in a situation where
a potentially dangerous dog actually attacks someone."
"We believe that with better enforcement and owner education
most of these attacks will be prevented," says Dr Blackman.
Dr Blackman also says that following dog attacks media interest
invariably focuses on individual dog breeds such as the Pit Bull
rather than the deed itself and the result is pressure on Government
to ban certain dog breeds. Australia banned the importation of 4
breeds including the American Pit Bull Terrier over 12 years ago
and this has had no apparent effect on decreasing the number of
dog attacks.
"Such bans occurred in several countries, including the UK,
about 15 or so years ago and the incidence and severity of dog attacks
in those countries has not changed," says Dr Blackman.
"This shows that other breeds and crossbreeds of dogs have
obviously taken their place and banning breeds considered dangerous
does not work."
"It merely highlights the fact that irresponsible ownership
of any large dog is much more likely to be the causative factor
for most serious dog attacks."
"Sadly Governments that are banning breeds are merely taking
the politically easy option of wanting to be seen by the public
to be doing something but failing to provide a solution that addresses
the underlying problem," says Dr Blackman.
An Open Letter from Mr Keith Irwin (President Of
RNSWCC Ltd) to the Premier of NSW, Mr Bob Carr
Dear Premier
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
As long as I draw breath, I will fight you on the issue of Breed
Specific Legislation. My organization, The Royal NSW Canine Council
Ltd, and all of its members are bitterly opposed to this kind of
legislation. I
believe that what you are proposing to do will in fact see the introduction
of Breed Specific Discrimination (BSD) in our State.
In my opinion, you are planning to take action against "specific
breeds" of "Man's Best Friend" for the wrong reasons.
It is the reckless and unthinking dog owners in our community that
do not do the right thing by their dogs that should, and must, accept
responsibility for their dogs actions. It is those owners that do
not provide their dog with training and socialization (both with
humans and other dogs) and also in most cases raise them without
including the dog as an integral part of caring and loving environments
which are the main cause of rogue dogs that bite and attack.
Clearly this is not the fault of the dogs involved let alone a
whole breed of "Man's Best Friend". To introduce the legislation
you plan to is down right un-Australian. We believe strongly in
"Punishing the Deed not the Breed" and that your State
Government must introduce educational programs that include promoting
responsible dog ownership in all our schools as a matter of urgency.
Everyone, including all the members of the RNSWCC, is appalled
and horrified by the type of dog attacks recently reported in the
press and our hearts and best wishes go out to those involved.
We do not recognize the Brazilian and Argentinean fighting dogs,
Japanese Tosa, the Pit Bull or the American Pit Bull as pure breed
dogs and their owners and breeders are certainly not members of
this
organization. The Federal Government has banned the importation
of these dogs for twelve years.
We are the controlling body of pedigree dog breeding in this State
and my members are committed to our organisation's Code of Ethics.
We breed dogs for sound temperament and then breed-type. The Australian
National Kennel Council, of which we are a member, recognizes over
185 separate breeds of dogs, many of which can trace their ancestry
back many hundreds of years.
Dog fighting, bull baiting and all other blood sports involving
dogs used to kill or maim were outlawed in England over 100 years
ago and since that time, responsible breeders both in England and
Australia have bred sound family dogs that make wonderful family
pets.
Any attempt to apply the proposed legislation to any one of the
breeds that we recognize will be strongly resisted. We will unite
every dog owning citizen of this State in defence of "Man's
Best Friend". Well may
your advisors take heart in the percentage of voters (80%) who support
the banning of the five breeds mentioned earlier. However, two in
every three families in this State own a variety of "Man's
Best Friend", particularly pure bred, and if you endanger that
relationship, watch how the citizens of this State react.
This organization does not support Breed Specific Discrimination
and most strongly recommends to you that you reconsider the proposed
introduction of Breed Specific Legislation. Instead, we urge you
to "Punish the Deed and not the Breed" and immediately
commence the funding of educational activities.
This organization and its 12,500 members, and its 365 affiliated
clubs with over 60,000 members stand ready to assist you in your
efforts to reduce dog attacks.
All we ask is to be consulted and included in any discussion prior
to any development and introduction of new legislation.
Yours sincerely
Keith Irwin JP ECC AIMM
President
Want More Information?
The following sites all contain valuable information
if you would like to learn more about BSL.
The Endangered Dog Breeds Association of Australia - http://www.edba.org.au
Endangered Breeds Association - http://www.endangeredbreedsassociation.org/
Report to the NSW Department of Local Government on Breed Specific
Legislation Issues Relating to Control of Dangerous Dogs prepared
by Dr. Kirsti Seksel, July 2002 - http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/Files/Information/ca_breed_specific_legislation.pdf
GoodPooch.com - http://www.goodpooch.com
Aussies Against The Breed Specific Legislation - http://www.avidgamers.com/runfree43
attackchi.org.au - the serious side of Breed Specific Legislation
- http://www.attackchi.org.au/
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