Official Press Release-American Pit Bull Terrier Club of Australia INC
Posted on August 14, 2009 by by carol w
The American Pit Bull Terrier Club Of Australia Inc. condemns the Victorian State Government announcement of new attacks on the American Pit Bull Terrier breed and it’s owners.
Club President Colin Muir said today that he was “appalled by the audacity of a Government elected twice on the promise of open, honest and accountable government yet the Bracks Government has not seen fit to consult with the key stakeholders in this issue – owners of the breed.” “This is the second time this government has legislated against this breed and both times they have done it by stealth.”
“This is of particular concern when you consider the governments own data shows these measures are without basis. Victorian figures show less than 50 attacks by American Pit Bull Terriers from more that 3200 from all breeds or around 1.5 %”
“ This is nothing more than a con on community expectations of a reduction in dog attacks. The Government is attempting to create a perception that they are addressing the problem of dog attacks, when in fact they are doing nothing that will cause a reduction.
Mr. Muir says that “ legislation aimed at a particular breed of dog does nothing to tackle the problem of attacking dogs. It punishes responsible owners with good dogs. Irresponsible owners with offending dogs just simply change breeds or ignore laws anyway.”
9 Comments to “Official Press Release-American Pit Bull Terrier Club of Australia INC”
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Punish the deed not the breed. Pitbulls are great dogs but also need great owners and lots of exercise. I have two and they are both great with kids. People just assume that because they are Pitbulls and have had a misconception for many years that they are aggressive dogs. Any dog can be aggressive if you train it to be. My father’s Jackrusell cross is an aggressive dog but does not get marginalised due to its size. If anyone has ever watched the “Dog Whisperer” they might understand more about the breed. People can be so ignorant about these breeds and there are so many myths associated with them and people really do need do to some research before trying to answer any questions about breeds before they start judging them.
Here is an interesting fact “last year the breed of dog that bit the most people was a cocker spaniel”.
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Dear Sir,
I also own an American Pitbull Terrier, and he is no trouble to anyone. It is time for Breed Specific Legislation to be thrown away.
People should be able to keep whatever ANIMAL they want to, provided they can look after it. In particular domestic animals should not be discriminated against.
Furthermore, I have read the original document which was read in the parliament, and apparently they asked for public submissions on the question of BSL. A vast number of people said they did not want the BSL , and only a few agreed with it. The Australian government then passed the legislation !?
Perhaps it is time to start a petition, and send this to the politicians? I will be happy to sign it.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Deane-Smith.
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I have never owned a Pit bull in my life but to my knowledge they have the same needs as any dog and that is routine, exercise, and a owner that will take responsibility for their animals. They are like children, they need to be occupied mentally as well as physically. I think I would like to own a pit bull but due to incorrect breeding; as in most breeds,it too suffers from things such as hip dysplasia and that is what stops me. The dogs I have met have been some of the nicest dogs going.
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This press release is appalling – no mention of sympathy for the mother and family of the child – the club president just comes out swinging and railing against the government.
You’ve lost me for one mate.
Dangerous imported breeds of dogs have no place in Australia.
Until the idiots who feel they have to buy these breeds of dog can be guaranteed to be responsible owners, I agree with what the Victorian Government is saying.
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@ GARY H
Sorry you feel that way, Pit bulls are not dangerous at all, people should be allowed to import/ buy what ever breed of dog/cat/ animal they want aslong as they take care of it and are responsible owners. And to your comment about ” IDIOTS WHO FEEL THEY HAVE TO BUY THESES BREEDS”??? seriously Are you calling all pit bull owners idiots? i have been attacked by many cute little fluffy annoying dogs, my son was bitten last week by a cute little poodle and i know many peopl that have been attacked by smaller dogs and i dont see that in the media or anyone trying to ban them. It is ignorants like your self that give the breed a bad reputation. I have two pit bulls and had a jask russell which i had to get put down because it attacked a person NOT THE PIT BULLS.
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I agree with Garry H the problem is that you keep going on about responsible owners but there is NO way of ensuring that. You have two choices either ensure that the dogs are owned by responsible owners, something which obviously does not happen or ban the breed. Where in the article is there any mention of licensing owners or any other way of ensuring that such an event does not occur again? No the government has a responsibility to the general public not just a minority.
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the breed should not be banned.
A pit bull is any of several breeds of dog in the molosser breed group,the modern American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, or any other dog that has the substantial physical characteristics and appearance of those breeds. However a few jurisdictions, such as Singapore[4] and Franklin County, Ohio, U.S.,[5] also classify the modern American Bulldog as a “pit bull-type dog”, while in the United Kingdom a pit bull is an American pit bull terrier.[6] All of the breeds share a similar history, with origins rooted from the bulldog and a variety of terriers. The dogs called bull terriers before the development of the modern bull terrier in the early 20th century may also be called pit bulls.
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To Gary H you said the following:
“This press release is appalling – no mention of sympathy for the mother and family of the child – the club president just comes out swinging and railing against the government.”
Did you notice that the the posted date on the press release was 14th August, 2009?
It is my belief that those owners of animals who fail to ensure their pets are cared for, trained responsibly and confimed to their own properties when not uder effective control should face tougher penalities unfortunatley this is not a fair world where owners are punished for their lack of duty of care towards the public and their pets and worse still thisis not limited to pit bulls.
Tougher national stance on Irresponsible pet owners such as banning them from owning, breeding, selling and training animals would be nice but as courts go is highly unlikely.
In the mean time dogs that of a restricted breed and not registered should be siezed and yes perhaps destroyed as if a pet owner is not responsible enough to register the animal they are highly unlikely to be so in any other duty required of them as a responsible pet owner would.
For the record I do not own nor have I ever owned a pit bull and I will most probably not as the breed does not suit my lifestyle.
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The American Pit Bull Terrier is considered dangerous in many countries including in states of the U.S because it is dangerous! All of you who are defending this breed are obviously owners of the breed, unfortunately!…I hope for your own sake that your dog doesn’t attack a person/child or harm anything in the future, if it does, you’ll then understand why the breed is banned in many parts of the world. I personally am terrified of them. Ever pass one in the street? They aren’t friendly animals and the owners always seem so amused when their animal is showing aggression.
I wish they were completely banned, awful creatures.
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