zippy-kat
12-16-2002, 12:40 PM
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
(received by email)
December 11, 2002
www.heraldsun.com.au
Mmm... pit bull for dinner: Moves to phase out ownership of pit bulls are not happening fast enough
SARAH HENDERSON
Fancy some pit bull pie? Or perhaps a slice of terrier terrine?
The thought of chomping into the cooked flesh of an american pit bull terrier may turn your stomach, but the Koreans haven’t got it all wrong.
Killing the pit bull for human consumption is far preferable to keeping them as pets
American pit bull terriers are a menace and should not be kept in any back yard in this state, let alone be allowed to walk through our parks and streets.
The fact is, these vile animals are genetically programmed to kill.
And no amount of bleating from owners who make claims such as, “But little Hannibal is so cute and adorable that he wouldn’t harm a flea”, changes a thing.
The american pit bull is deadly. Once that instinct to kill is triggered- weather it be by a small child or a fluffy white dog- the creature becomes a raging monster.
And at least one council in Victoria has recognised that brutal fact.
In the municipality of Hobsons Bay- which includes areas such as Williamstown, Altona and Laverton- it is no longer possible to register a new american pit bull terrier.
Only pit bulls which are now registered are permitted, which means that, over time, pit bull ownership in this part of Melbourne will be phased out.
Recent amendments to the Victorian Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act giver all councils the power to phase out this dangerous breed of dog.
So why haven’t more councils acted?
The new laws are now in place, so there are simply no more excuses.
The new legislation automatically deems pit bulls to be dangerous dogs, wether or not they have a history of aggressive behaviour.
There are now much tougher rules on how dangerous dogs must be enclosed. Pit bull owners face fines of up to $12,000 if their animals attack.
But there are still holes in the regulations.
According to the RSPCA president Hugh Wirth, moves to forcibly de-sex all pit bulls in Victoria- rejected by the State Opposition- were a retrograde step.
And the legislation does not cover crossbreeds, which can be dangerous.
There are also problems at a federal level. While the importation of the american pit bull into Australia is banned- along with that of several other exotic and fierce breeds- not enough is being done to police the prohibition laws.
Dr. Wirth says some pit bull owners have managed to escape the import prohibitions by making false declarations s to the breed of dog being imported.
And he claims the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service is failing to adequately investigate such declarations.
And what about the owners themselves?
What type of person would want to keep an animal which has only one purpose in life- to attack and kill?
In my view, the typical pit bull owner enjoys the fear that their “pet” evokes in others.
I am sure there are a few decent pit bull owners out there, but I am afraid I haven’t seen any.
And what’s with those “mini-me” collars- the ones that are covered in silver spikes and worn around the neck of both master and dog?
Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, does it?
So, if you are not living in the municipality of Hobsons Bay and want to be assured that you and your children can walk the streets and play in the park in relative safety, then start petitioning your local council.
Otherwise, maybe the solution is to rely on the culinary traditions of the South Koreans.
Yum, yum.
[email protected]
SARAH HENDERSON is a lawyer and director of Kudos Management Group
_________________________________________
If you want to contact the author or the paper:
HeraldSun
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sarah Henderson, the author [email protected]
Sarah Can be contacted at 03 9866 2310
S M Henderson
37 Tyronne St
South Yarra, Victoria, 3141
Australia
(received by email)
December 11, 2002
www.heraldsun.com.au
Mmm... pit bull for dinner: Moves to phase out ownership of pit bulls are not happening fast enough
SARAH HENDERSON
Fancy some pit bull pie? Or perhaps a slice of terrier terrine?
The thought of chomping into the cooked flesh of an american pit bull terrier may turn your stomach, but the Koreans haven’t got it all wrong.
Killing the pit bull for human consumption is far preferable to keeping them as pets
American pit bull terriers are a menace and should not be kept in any back yard in this state, let alone be allowed to walk through our parks and streets.
The fact is, these vile animals are genetically programmed to kill.
And no amount of bleating from owners who make claims such as, “But little Hannibal is so cute and adorable that he wouldn’t harm a flea”, changes a thing.
The american pit bull is deadly. Once that instinct to kill is triggered- weather it be by a small child or a fluffy white dog- the creature becomes a raging monster.
And at least one council in Victoria has recognised that brutal fact.
In the municipality of Hobsons Bay- which includes areas such as Williamstown, Altona and Laverton- it is no longer possible to register a new american pit bull terrier.
Only pit bulls which are now registered are permitted, which means that, over time, pit bull ownership in this part of Melbourne will be phased out.
Recent amendments to the Victorian Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act giver all councils the power to phase out this dangerous breed of dog.
So why haven’t more councils acted?
The new laws are now in place, so there are simply no more excuses.
The new legislation automatically deems pit bulls to be dangerous dogs, wether or not they have a history of aggressive behaviour.
There are now much tougher rules on how dangerous dogs must be enclosed. Pit bull owners face fines of up to $12,000 if their animals attack.
But there are still holes in the regulations.
According to the RSPCA president Hugh Wirth, moves to forcibly de-sex all pit bulls in Victoria- rejected by the State Opposition- were a retrograde step.
And the legislation does not cover crossbreeds, which can be dangerous.
There are also problems at a federal level. While the importation of the american pit bull into Australia is banned- along with that of several other exotic and fierce breeds- not enough is being done to police the prohibition laws.
Dr. Wirth says some pit bull owners have managed to escape the import prohibitions by making false declarations s to the breed of dog being imported.
And he claims the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service is failing to adequately investigate such declarations.
And what about the owners themselves?
What type of person would want to keep an animal which has only one purpose in life- to attack and kill?
In my view, the typical pit bull owner enjoys the fear that their “pet” evokes in others.
I am sure there are a few decent pit bull owners out there, but I am afraid I haven’t seen any.
And what’s with those “mini-me” collars- the ones that are covered in silver spikes and worn around the neck of both master and dog?
Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, does it?
So, if you are not living in the municipality of Hobsons Bay and want to be assured that you and your children can walk the streets and play in the park in relative safety, then start petitioning your local council.
Otherwise, maybe the solution is to rely on the culinary traditions of the South Koreans.
Yum, yum.
[email protected]
SARAH HENDERSON is a lawyer and director of Kudos Management Group
_________________________________________
If you want to contact the author or the paper:
HeraldSun
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sarah Henderson, the author [email protected]
Sarah Can be contacted at 03 9866 2310
S M Henderson
37 Tyronne St
South Yarra, Victoria, 3141
Australia