Pit bull terriers

[flump1]

Hi all, I was under the impression that Pit Bull Terriers were banned from this country either to breed them or keep as pets. Now, in our town a shopkeeper has one behind a baby gate. If they are not supposed to be kept as pets why on earth has he got it ? I understand from other folk it was imported. I was more alarmed when it was rumoued he is getting another ! Do I report him to the police? Or is it a matter for the RSPSA? Thanks .

[RATTER14]

Are you sure its a pit bull and not a staffy? I think you can still keep a pit bull in this country, but all males must be neutered and both sexes must be muzzled when in public.

I am a dog lover but the pit bull is a dog that has no place on this earth, it was bred specifically to attack and fight and anybody who says theirs is cute and wouldnt hurt a fly, thats what all the owners have said when their pit bull has mauled and ripped arms off of children. Nuff said!!

[RATTER14]

Are you sure its a pit bull and not a staffy? I think you can still keep a pit bull in this country, but all males must be neutered and both sexes must be muzzled when in public.

I am a dog lover but the pit bull is a dog that has no place on this earth, it was bred specifically to attack and fight and anybody who says theirs is cute and wouldn't hurt a fly, that's what all the owners have said when their pit bull has mauled and ripped arms off of children. Nuff said!!

[Rock'n'Roll]

If it was imported,it's hardly likely to be a staffordshire. If you have any worries,then report it,you could be saving someone or their pet from a savaging. They cannot be trusted,no matter how docile they seem to be

[violetblue]

I'm petrified of them. I suggest you look up the Dangerous Dogs Act - I'm sure they're banned, but the problem at the time was proving exactly whether a dog was a pit bull or not. Any dog with that type of jaw is potentially dangerous anyway, so I'd report him, anonymously of course, to the RSPCA. They can then decide.

[orange-gnome]

Hi, they are not actually banned but they are on the dangerous dogs list which means that they have to be registered and licensed. On a lead and muzzled at all times when in public places and of course they have to be neutered as breeding of them in this country is not allowed.
I have to say that these days there are so many mix bull breeds which look a lot like pit bulls that it is hard to tell just from looking and rumours tend to be rife about this sort of thing. Having said that however, if it were me I would report him to the police... that way if it is not a pit bull or it is and he has all the relevant paper work to keep one then he has nothing to worry about and if not then you have done a good thing!

[orange-gnome]

Because the Dangerous Dogs Act is a part of the law I would say that it is more than likely a case for the police, especially seeing as they have waay more investigative power than the RSPCA

[Booldawg]

I was under the impression that the DDA act of 1991 enforced the castration and registration of all Pit Pull terriers. This is hard to enforce as a Pit Bull terrier isnt a recognised breed by UKs kennel club. There are no hard and fast rules to distinguish the difference between a pit bull and a staffy (unless of course the staffy has KC reg certificate) I believe the vets use a measurement system of chest width and shoulder height to tell the difference. This is fairly unreliable as a larger staffy not bred from pedigree stock could fall into the pit bull category.

Dont be fooled into believing that pit bulls are non-existant in the UK. Like most things that get banned, all it does is force the market 'underground' and vastly inflate the price. I doubt that many people not involved in the illegal dog dighting scene would be able to purchase a pit bull terrier and most likely his dog is what they call an Irish staffy, they tend to be larger at the shoulder.

[eyeshade]

The Pit Bull has been overbred and even if you go on websites specifically for PB Terriers, they all look different.
They are a breed that does need phasing out and are specifically mentioned in the Dangerous Dogs Act along with the Japanese Tosa.
BUT Make sure it is a Pit Bull before doing anything or as the above say, ask the RSPCA or speak to your local dog warden at your local council and he could advise you.

[jake-the-peg]

The pit bull terrier is one of 4 banned dogs

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/domest ic/ddogsleaflet.pdf

However the Dangerous Dogs Act is almost a byword for bad legislation and the problems identifying and proving a Pit Bull are notorious.

The Police know this so short of you coming up with some sort of certificate identifying the dog or the dog actually injuring someone, I'm pretty sure they'll listen politely to you and take no action

[annavc]

This is something that worries me too - some of you may remember quite some time ago that someone I work with got an American Pit Bull and I was concerned about it. She assured me at the time that they would get it neutered but I asked her again the other day if this had been done yet and she said they'd decided to breed from him. I couldn't believe it but there is just no telling these people. She thinks he's really cute and gentle and thinks it would be cruel not to let him get his leg over so to speak!

They have no idea about caring for dogs - they had an 8 month old Staffy before which was left in the house all day every day when they were at work, who wasn't neutered and who escaped from their completely insecure garden. Not microchipped either!

Ooooh it makes me so mad.

[tara08]

flump1 i think you need to mind your own business, has the dog ever been aggressive to anyone??? You clearly don't no a thing about this breed of dog, they are friendly, loyal dogs who aren't by nature aggressive to human's. So why would you want this innocent dog to be killed!!! So to answer your question it is not a matter for the police or the RSPCA......