Crosswords18 mins ago
American Pit Bull
Some of you may remember a few weeks ago that I posted a request for advice on persuading someone I knew not to get another dog after losing their Staffy puppy who wasn't spayed or microchipped and who was shut in at home all day every day. Anyway, my pleas fell on deaf ears and she's just told me that as of yesterday they have got an American Pit Bull. I don't know much about these dogs but am I right in thinking that they are on the dangerous dogs list and have to muzzled at all times? Do correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, I'm just really worried that these people do not know what they're doing. The dog is a fashion accessory and I wish there was something I could do about it. Any advice would be very gratefully received. Thank you.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits four types of dog:
the Pit Bull Terrier
the Japanese tosa
the Dogo Argentino
the Fila Brasileiro
It is an offence to own or keep any of the above types of dog, unless it is on the Index of Exempted Dogs and is in compliance with the requirements. In any event it is an offence to breed from, sell or exchange (even as a gift) such a dog, irrespective of whether it has been placed on the Index of Exempted Dogs.
It is important to note that, in the UK, dangerous dogs are classified by �type�, not by breed label. This means that whether a dog is considered dangerous, and therefore prohibited, will depend on a judgment about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited 'type'. This assessment of the physical characteristics is made by a court. A leaflet providing guidance on the physical characteristics that a court would consider in reaching its judgement can be found below.
The 1991 Act was amended by the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act 1997. The 1997 Act removed the mandatory destruction order provisions of the 1991 Act by giving the courts discretion on sentencing, and re-opened the Index of Exempted Dogs for those prohibited dogs which the courts consider would not pose a risk to the public. Only courts can direct that a dog can be placed on the list of exempted dogs.
Section 3 of the 1991 Act created a new offence of being an owner of a dog of any type or breed which is dangerously out of control in a public place or a non-public place in which it is not permitted to be.
Not sure if American Pit Bull is different to English Pit Bull though?
What is interesting is the omission from DEFRA's list of the Wolf Hybrid - cross between wolf and something like a Siberian Husky. They were very fashionable a while ago. Can you imagine - the instinct of the wolf with the natural fear of man bred out of it?