This is awful!

[Miss Z]

I'm not much of a poster on the 'dog side', but I do occasionally read the magazine 'Your dog', and I was horrified to see this report on its news page:

Dublin's ban shocks the Dog World

Dog lovers are horrified at the news that Dublin City council has banned 11 breeds of dog.

The breeds, which are the bull terrier, staffordshire bull terrier, American pit bull terrier, rottweiler, German shepherd, dobermann, Rhodesian ridgeback, akita, bull mastiff, Japanese tosa and bandog, including any crosses of these breeds, are banned from the council's properties, including houses, flats and estates, with immediate effect.

There are also plans to amend its by-laws so the animals will also be banned from public parks, so that anyone who owns one of the banned breeds will not be able to walk them in public parks even if they live in private property.

The council has given tenants time to rehome their pets but if alternative accommodation is not found they will be seized and destroyed.

The council has also written to the Irish Minister for the Environment asking him to ban all breeds of 'fighting dogs' nationally. It says it has introduced the ban due to an increase in the number of complaints from tenants and because of the legal implications associated with any attacks that occur on its properties.

A spokesman from the Irish Kennel Club, which held a meeting with members from the affected breed clubs, said,

"The Irish Kennel Club thinks it is a poorly thought out response to a genuine problem. Attempting to ban these breeds is a complete overreaction. Breed Specific Legislation and breed bans are not effective solutions to the problem of dog attacks.

[theterrierman]

Staffies?

Chit, mang! I thought McGuinty was the only guy stupid enough to ban Staffies. Once again, responsible owners will be the only ones persecuted under the ban.

Andy

[basi]

I have just read on another forum that they are now not banned but existing tenants must register them with the council, microchip them and neuter them. I'm still trying to find concrete evidence of this.

[lisahumphreys882]

That's horrible. It's always the responsible owner that gets in trouble.

[Miss Z]

I have just read on another forum that they are now not banned but existing tenants must register them with the council, microchip them and neuter them. I'm still trying to find concrete evidence of this.

Well at least that is something. This whole thing is so ridiculous, but if neutering becomes a must then that may actually help the plight of these breeds, as it will become harder to breed irresponsibly.

[Alysser]

This is just creating a growing problem! It puts fear or more fear in the public by doing this type of crap. I would like to know their real reason for this. Might as well go and ban all dog breeds while your at it.

[Canis-Lupess]

Ah, I read about this in a mates GSD forum. Sheesh, before we know it, all dogs will be banned from everywhere and PETA will be cheering and celebrating.

They are totally stupid.