Pitbulls

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While I am definitely in the anti-pitbull camp, I think what is really sad in all of this is that there are going to be some lovely dogs out there that get destroyed. They are going to be someone's pet and its going to be extremely hard for everyone. Whether they should be in the home or not, how do you explain to children that their beloved family pet has to be put to sleep? What is going to cause enormous problems is that there is no way to clearly identify which dogs are the "right" cross breeds, and some dogs who don't have a drop of pit bull blood in them could be wrongly destroyed.

As has been previously said, this problem is bigger than just pitbulls. There should be much tougher restrictions on all dog breeding, compulsory de-sexing of non-breeding dogs, compulsory training sessions etc. It will probably mean dogs and puppies will be more expensive to buy, but IMHO if you can't afford the initial purchase price then you really can't afford a dog.

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well said

Deleting. Keeping coming back to this thread even though I don't want to. Back away from the keyboard…...

The search and destroy will only apply to those who have an unregistered pit bull. Am I missing something? As far as my knowledge goes, I believed that pit bulls themselves at this point are not illegal to own, only illegal to breed, trying to eradicate them from here. So if you own a registered pit bull, then it won't be destroyed (unless of course, like any dog, it hurts someone). So basically, the way I understand it, if you have a registered pit bull, it means you're subject to the council checks, but you're allowed to have the dog. If it's unregistered, then it's taken away.

I get that in the search and destroy, dogs will lose their lives. But the onus is on the owner to prevent this happening.

the article i read on a certain shire was about them being surrendered - registered or not

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the article i read on a certain shire was about them being surrendered - registered or not

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Okay, I'm getting confused. I'm not talking about the surrender scheme, but the search and destroy one.

ohhhhhh then i dunno :D i didnt know they had one of those

hang on i jst googled - any unregistered dog will be destroyed that fits the description of a pitty - is what my understanding of it is - youre right pacrakmg..

so just do the right thing and register them and you won't have a problem. whats the big deal?

my cat is registered and she's not a danger to anyone (unless you are a rat). its really not that hard.

Ahh got it right then, thanks Alish :)

ETA - Heaven, that's exactly it. I don't understand why people get so upset about it. If the dog is registered, then it can't be taken away. It also means that the community is safe(r) because with registering a restricted breed comes certain rules about how it needs to be kept. To me, this is the same as getting a speeding fine. If you didn't speed, you wouldn't be booked. So if you register the dog, it won't be taken away.

just a quick question!

We own an English Staff who i know for a fact ppl have "thought" was a pit bull until they actually came and asked what he was :wall: anyway my question is what happens to us owners who have an English or AmStaff? (or any other terrier line that is similar to the pit bull). If they are reported or suspected of being pit bull etc then obviously the onus falls on us to prove our dog is not a Pit Bull, so just wanted to know how do we do that, is it only through DNA testing? - should add that our staffy was purchased from a registered english staff breeder so we do have his breed papers showing blood lines etc so we do know what dog we have. my query was more from the pov that most ppl don't even know what a pb looks like (as proven in this thread) so the whole thing encouraging "dob in a pit or 'suspected' pit" was why i asked.

ETA: and yes he is registered and has been since we got him 7yrs ago :) - along with our Chihuahua! (yes, weird match but they adore each other and have grown up together)

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ETA - Heaven, that's exactly it. I don't understand why people get so upset about it. If the dog is registered, then it can't be taken away. It also means that the community is safe(r) because with registering a restricted breed comes certain rules about how it needs to be kept. To me, this is the same as getting a speeding fine. If you didn't speed, you wouldn't be booked. So if you register the dog, it won't be taken away.

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i guess for me its the fact that if they start on unregistered - they can start on registered

while i dont own a pitbull, i own 2 american staffies (one is registered a staffy - when we got her from a pup - she has now grown up and looks like a ridgeback) - both registered - and im curious like negrita is - ive had mine confused for pitbulls.. ill be more than happy to pay for all the testing to prove they arent.. but its the fact that they *could* have the power to just take them off you without finding out the proper breed.

if that makes sense?

i thought they couldn't take them off you if they are registered?

I think it is through DNA testing. I remember seeing something on one of those reality shows, like "The Force" - the police were called to seize a dog people were suspicious of being a pit bull, and the owner believed was a pit bull. The lady was throwing the ball to it out in a park beside a primary school, so it was off lead, and people had called the police. They took the dog and got it DNA tested, and it came back that it was a cross breed, so she could have it back. Maybe ask at your vets? There could be some way you could get it done so you actually have the paperwork to present should it come to that. I know you shouldn't have to do that, but I guess if it was me and I was worried, that's what I'd try and do.

Then get them tested now and have the paperwork there if the need arises.
They would need to test them if the dogs are confiscated with intent to put them down. And you would certainly be able to push for them to do so, it would be at your expense obviously.

I really don't see the issue. They are dangerous, register them. And WTF do people buy dogs they don't know what breed they are??? I just don't get it.

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i thought they couldn't take them off you if they are registered?

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not at the moment - as i said - its the fact that they *could* start to even if they are registered.

pacrakmg - yeah i might talk to dh about this tonight - if they ever came knocking at least i could have the paperwork ready to prove it - if they started seizing registered ones..

mine are not registered as a dangerous breed anyway - i asked the question - i did the right thing - but at the moment they are not considered a dangerous breed.

And they *could* make all dogs illegal tomorrow.

What are basing that assertion on?

i wouldn't worry about it just yet.

i would only worry if i had a pit bull.

They could also make a law saying we could all only wear purple hats...or ban the burqa...or outlaw wombats...

As it stands, if you've got an unregistered dog, you're doing the wrong thing and will face consequences. If your dog is a pittie then you are also risking the life of your dog. Registered dog = no risk of being destroyed. No point worrying about what-ifs.

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Our local council and a neighbouring council are having surrender your restricted breed for free no questions asked for the next month. It will be very intersesting to see what types and how many dogs get surrended.

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There is meant to be something on 10 news tonight about it I think.