Anyone who has read my posts previously, will understand how much importance I have always placed on training my dogs, to give them the opportunity to run freely and socialise safely and responsibly, so that they are able to enjoy their very best dog life.
With that in mind, here are my thoughts on the new Government Breed Specific Legislation for 'XL Bully types' that came into force today...
Cooper, Polly and Betty
We are saddened to say that today our Government's ban on 'XL Bully types' came into force.
As an owner of large dogs, I have een interested to learn more about what has been imposed on the owners of these dogs and am horrified by the Government's inhumane and clumsy legislation which makes a sweeping ban on thousands of dogs who have never put a paw wrong in life. I fear it is inevitable that many rescue centre XL bullies (or bully 'types', whatever that may mean) will be euthanised, or dumped by frightened or uncaring owners as a result of this legal ban, based solely on the appearance of a dog.
Responsible owners of well behaved, obedience trained, XL bully 'type' dogs, are now legally obliged to muzzle their pets for life, neuter them and deny them any freedom to exercise properly, or socialise in public spaces, by keeping them on a short lead, stigmatising them and making them social lepers. Owners must also find almost £100 to register their loved dogs as 'dangerous' if they want to keep them safe from being snatched and destroyed by police, despite their dogs never have so much as growled at anyone. Tiny puppies must also be muzzled trained and kept under very secure conditions and these dogs will no longer be bred legally in the UK.
Legal exemption means owners may keep their loved family pets safe from euthanasia only if they have complied with the strictest of rules by today's date, however, their lives will forever be tightly restricted by doing so. No XL bully dogs may be rehomed or sold after today, meaning that if an owner dies for example, their dog must die too. Our Government has taken a decision that confuses and criminalises dog owners of this non-specific breed, based solely on their dog's appearance and a set of measurements, rather than on the dog's, or their owner's, behaviour. To me that feels very wrong.
Great Britain has always been proud of its reputation as a dog loving country and I find this new legislation utterly shameful. It does not address irresponsible dog ownership, it does not address irresponsible breeders. It does not educate, it does not train. It is a reactive piece of legislation, heavily led by media scare-mongering. Out of control dogs can of course be dangerous and that must be addressed, but labelling every single dog of similar appearance as 'dangerous', simply because it measures similarly to a dog that has attacked, is as inadequate as labelling every human of a certain dress, or suit size a threat, simply because another human being of similar size has attacked someone.
This breed specific legislation brought heartache and unnecessary stress to a huge number of caring, responsible pet owners and I personally feel it is a very sad day for all responsible dog owners.
