Pertition to Save Lennox in Belfast - He is not an Irish Setter but it is Barbaric what Belfast Council has done Please sign

[Margaret Mazan]

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.savelennoxpetition...

 

This is a petition to save a dog in Belfast (not an Irish Setter) but still a travesty who has been taken from his owner because of poor unprofessional behavior - please sign if you agree.

 

Thanx

 

Maggie and Gary Mazan

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.savelennoxpetition...

[Astrid Landsaat]

Did any of those dogs bite you or your dogs? To be honest I only have positive experiences with types of dogs like that. I know some Staffords, American Staffords, bull terriers and crosses between them. They are all sweet family pets. The first dog that attacked my girl was a Labrador cross breed.The first dog that attacked me (don't laugh) was a Yorkshire terrier.

 

Lennox is a family pet that never harmed anyone. I would judge dogs only on their character and not on their looks!  

[Howard Glansfield]

In answer to your guestion ,yes,two of my dogs and the owner of one of the Pit Bulls.

I have no problem with Staffies or English Bull Terriers but Pit Bulls are a law unto themselves.No one will ever convince me that they are safe to have as a pet....in any circumstances.

[Astrid Landsaat]

[Astrid Landsaat]

Did any of those dogs bite you or your dogs? To be honest I only have positive experiences with types of dogs like that. I know some Staffords, American Staffords, bull terriers and crosses between them. They are all sweet family pets. The first dog that attacked my girl was a Labrador cross breed.The first dog that attacked me (don't laugh) was a Yorkshire terrier.

 

Lennox is a family pet that never harmed anyone. I would judge dogs only on their character and not on their looks! 

[Peter Hennig]

Hi Howard 

a pit bull is a cross bred dog so I don't think a DNA test would do anything as you would have to establish what breeds make up a pitbull. Then you go down a very slippery slope what makes a dangerous breed ?

A few years back it was GSD's and Doberman's then it was Rotty's and bullmastiffs the state government in queenland Aus. has deemed american staffies to be pitbull types.

Any of those breeds could and can be dangerous dogs, passing laws based on breed type is wrong and removing a family pet with those laws when the animal has done nothing to deserve it is outrageous.

I understand how you feel and I too am horrified at some of the stories we see about dog attacks but it is not the dogs fault its' nearly always the owners who are to blame for the dogs behavior.The dog get destroyed and the owner gets a slap on the wrist. 

[Howard Glansfield]

It seems you are correct about the DNA but I had understood that it was being used to identify the breed.The law in the UK which includes Northern Ireland is strict.This is from the Kennel Club and it might help but it is long :

Q.     What is a pit bull terrier type dog
A.      Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 relates to dogs of the type known as the pit bull terrier.  The High Court has decided that for a dog to be a pit bull type, it must have a substantial number of the physical characteristics of a pit bull terrier.  These characteristics are listed in a number of places, and probably the most comprehensive (and that generally relied on by Courts) is the American Dog Breeders Association’s Basis of Conformation for the American Pit Bull Terrier.  This is a functional standard which describes the ideal, and so the dog does not have to conform in every detail to be regarded as a pit bull type.  DEFRA has produced guidance which summarises some of the main physical aspects of a pit bull terrier (see ‘DEFRA guidance on prohibited dogs’ which can be accessed via the links page on this site)

Q.    But I have a dog with a nice temperament.  Surely this can’t be regarded as a pit bull type
A.     The High Court has ruled that the behaviour of a dog is relevant but not conclusive when determining whether a dog is a pit bull type

Q.    Surely there is a DNA test that can be used
A.     Not at present.  In any event, the legal test is predominantly on the basis of physical conformation so it isn’t just about the breeding but is about what the dog looks like.

Q.    Doesn’t the law just apply to pure bred pit bulls
A.    No.  Cross-breeds and mongrels could be regarded as pit bull types depending on their physical conformation.

Q.    How does the prosecution prove their case

A.     In Court the burden of proof is on the dog owner to prove that the dog isn’t  a pit bull type.  This reversal of the usual burden of proof has been challenged in the European Court, but has been found to be lawful.  It is therefore very difficult to successfully defend a case.  The evidence is likely to be given by experts.

Q.     Can a pit bull type dog ever be lawfully owned
A.     Owners were given a short period of time to have their dogs registered onto the Index of Exempted Dogs, but this form of voluntary registration ended in 1991. Since 1997 the law has been slightly relaxed, so that if an owner is prosecuted for possession of an unregistered pit bull type dog the Court may allow the dog to be registered (and all of the other conditions must be complied with) but only if the owner can prove that the dog would not constitute a danger to public safety.  If this cannot be proven then the Court must order that the dog be destroyed.

Q.      What are the conditions of owning a pit bull type apart from having the dog registered
A.       The dog has to be neutered, microchipped, tattooed and insured.  Also, no person shall:
Breed, or breed from, the dog
Sell or exchange the dog or offer, advertise or expose the dog for sale or exchange
Make or offer to make a gift of the dog or advertise or expose the dog as a gift
Allow the dog to be in a public place without being muzzled and kept on a lead
Abandon the dog or allow it to stray

Q.       What would happen if any of the conditions are breached after a dog has been registered
A.        It is a criminal offence and in addition to penalties for the Defendant there is a presumption that the dog shall be destroyed

eed.

[Howard Glansfield]

The BBC reported today  that a passer-by stormed into a flat to save a terrified boy being torn apart by a pit bull terrier.

Lawal Alhadi, 29, smashed through the front door and pulled the dog off seven-year-old Jack Wellstead, who was unconscious and soaked in blood.

The boy suffered terrible head injuries and will be scarred for life. The dog has been destroyed.

 

I understand that there were other children in the flat but where were the parents? Why were they alone?

However this was a pet dog.

All dogs can be a risk but some are more risky than others.

[Peter Hennig]

I agree why were they alone ? where were their parents and what were they thinking!!! leaving children inside unsupervised with or without a dog. I would not leave my grandchildren in the same room with our afghans or havanese let alone any dog capable of killing a child even our irish is too lumbering. Can you imagine small children playing and squealing making sounds that attract a dogs curiosity. Those stories get me furious it's tragic all round all caused by peoples stupidity!! I cannot understand why anyone would want a dog in their home that's capable of that type of destruction and abdicate responsibility of training and now live with the consequences of an injured child.

A friend had a rotty, absolutely huge, very well trained but no one could touch his food bowl you'd lose your hand if you tried and right there is the accident waiting to happen 

[Danica Morarova]

signed

[Marta Magi]

Signed, hoping for the best!

[Kate]

Signed :-)

 

Is such a shame that this is happening all around the world. At the end of the day its down to human error, not the dogs, which ever breed they may be!

The law is too lazy when it comes to dogs! they need to tighten up instead of choosing the PTS option. It should be law that people should be educated before owning a dog.  Any dog can bite!

 

If only dogs could speak their minds, it wont jus be a few words............

Kate 

[Margaret Mazan]

Totally agree we have Black lab on our street who is regularly let out - he chases Taxi's. he has been known to pin kids in gardens, mounting the kids to dominate and this morning I was loading my sandwich van he stood his ground barking at me - tail erect - he gets nowhere with me because I don't let him. I had 6 mth old pups escape yesterday and he had a go at one of them.

 

Northing happens to him or his owner because of what he is!!  It is a disaster waiting to happen!