The Uk has banned many dog breeds that are classed as dangerous. These breeds include Pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Braziliero. In this page we will be looking at pit bull terriers, the reason pit bull terriers are banned is because they are classed as dangerous to people, children and pets. The Government decided that they are most likely to show aggression and more likely to be trained to be aggressive. Even now pit bulls are used in illegal dog fighting. Pit bulls are big dogs that look very aggressive. They weigh about 30-60 pounds, they are very muscular dogs and they have a large wedge shaped head.
The Dangerous Dog Act in 1991 ensured that the pit-bull breed was banned from the UK. This was to stamp out illegal dog fighting. It is reported that there are 3,000 pit bulls in the UK 25 years after they were banned. Gang members use the breed and train them using methods such as hitting them in the face with a brick and encouraging them to attack people. Gangs can teach these dogs to carry drugs and act as a weapon for them. Gang members saw pit bulls as a status symbols after many rap singers included them in their music videos the media encouraged their breed. Because they are a banned breed if an owner is seen with a pit-bull the police or local warden has the authority to seize the dog even without a warrant. The case may go to court where the owner should prove the dog is not a banned breed and if it is the owner can be fined up to £5,000 and even worse have six months in prison. However, if the dog is proved to not be dangerous or a danger to other dogs, and the public then the owner will receive a certificate of exemption and have it returned. However, they will then be microchipped and permitted to wear a lead and a muzzle at all times in public places. Owners are also forced to take insurance on their dog in case it injures someone and the dog must be neutered to prevent from breeding with them.
A report was written on an attack that took place in Birmingham after a pit bull was shot dead in Birmingham after it was let loose. The dog was said to have been very dangerous and trained to kill by gang members. A Labour MP called Khalid Mahood from Birmingham called on police and the RSPCA to take dangerous dogs from the streets. He said that ‘There have been some very high profile attacks on children and these dogs should not be kept as pets.’ This message was received by the RSPCA and a spokesmen explained clamping down on this breed was ‘unjustifiable and ineffective’ he blamed owners for the dogs being dangerous not the breed. Pit bulls are known to have hurt at least 2235 people and attacked at least 911 children. They have attacked the most amount of people above all other banned breeds.
On GOV.UK it states pit bull terriers as being banned from the Uk and stating ‘it’s against the law’ yet people can still prove to the law that their dog is not dangerous. It is also against the law to breed them, abandon them, giveaway and sell a pit bull terrier. There is a certain appearance that is banned rather than the breed if a dog matches any characteristics of a pit bull terrier it may be a banned type. Dogs who are of the breed but are not classed as ‘dangerous’ will be given back to the owner or kept in kennels. If the dog is dangerous it will be destroyed. Only over 16’s can keep a banned breed that is not classed as dangerous by the court and it must be kept in a secure place.
There is currently a petition on UK government and parliaments website. This petition is to change the law on the dangerous dog act 1991 stop putting healthy dogs down. The description states ‘Innocent dogs and puppies are being put to sleep for no reason, just purely for the type of breed.’ They also say that ‘If they have done no harm and have been proven to be safe in public they have the right to live!’ There are currently 23,185 signatures on this petition but nothing can be improved or changed until this petition reaches 100,000 signatures. When this petition reaches 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in parliament. Many people believe that dangerous dogs are only dangerous because their owner trains them to be. There are also amounts of Facebook pages that encourage people to consider legalising the pit bull breed in the UK. There is one called ‘Fully legalise pit bulls in the UK’ currently 2,640 people have liked this page. This page shares stories about pit bulls doing good things for people and shaming people who have harmed the breed.
The dangerous dog act 1991 could be improved and was amended in 1997 as dogs where only reported after an incident had taken place. People who decide to ignore the law and keep pit bulls are wasting police resources and time also millions of pounds has been spent on kennelling these dogs. The law could be improved by the legislations not allowing dogs to be kept whether they are safe or not. Perhaps the dog only attacks on command and passes the non-aggressiveness tests yet continues to attack if commanded to do so by the owner. Being 16 years old is not old enough to keep a dangerous dog, they should only be kept by a capable adult that is at least 18 years old and perhaps the legislation should also introduce a course for pit bull owners so they know how to react in certain situations and learn about just how dangerous the breed can be. Pit bulls are described as being ‘against the law to keep’ and yet people can still keep this breed if they are not classed as dangerous to fully stamp out the breed from England Pit bulls should not be allowed to keep pit bulls no matter what.
In conclusion, pit bulls can be family loving pets and can be brought up to be nice dogs. However, like every breed of dog they do have a higher tendency to turn aggressive. At this moment in time pit bulls are a banned breed and although there are petitions taking place it could take many years before the dog is actually legalised in the UK.
The Dangerous Dog Act in 1991 ensured that the pit-bull breed was banned from the UK. This was to stamp out illegal dog fighting. It is reported that there are 3,000 pit bulls in the UK 25 years after they were banned. Gang members use the breed and train them using methods such as hitting them in the face with a brick and encouraging them to attack people. Gangs can teach these dogs to carry drugs and act as a weapon for them. Gang members saw pit bulls as a status symbols after many rap singers included them in their music videos the media encouraged their breed. Because they are a banned breed if an owner is seen with a pit-bull the police or local warden has the authority to seize the dog even without a warrant. The case may go to court where the owner should prove the dog is not a banned breed and if it is the owner can be fined up to £5,000 and even worse have six months in prison. However, if the dog is proved to not be dangerous or a danger to other dogs, and the public then the owner will receive a certificate of exemption and have it returned. However, they will then be microchipped and permitted to wear a lead and a muzzle at all times in public places. Owners are also forced to take insurance on their dog in case it injures someone and the dog must be neutered to prevent from breeding with them.
A report was written on an attack that took place in Birmingham after a pit bull was shot dead in Birmingham after it was let loose. The dog was said to have been very dangerous and trained to kill by gang members. A Labour MP called Khalid Mahood from Birmingham called on police and the RSPCA to take dangerous dogs from the streets. He said that ‘There have been some very high profile attacks on children and these dogs should not be kept as pets.’ This message was received by the RSPCA and a spokesmen explained clamping down on this breed was ‘unjustifiable and ineffective’ he blamed owners for the dogs being dangerous not the breed. Pit bulls are known to have hurt at least 2235 people and attacked at least 911 children. They have attacked the most amount of people above all other banned breeds.
On GOV.UK it states pit bull terriers as being banned from the Uk and stating ‘it’s against the law’ yet people can still prove to the law that their dog is not dangerous. It is also against the law to breed them, abandon them, giveaway and sell a pit bull terrier. There is a certain appearance that is banned rather than the breed if a dog matches any characteristics of a pit bull terrier it may be a banned type. Dogs who are of the breed but are not classed as ‘dangerous’ will be given back to the owner or kept in kennels. If the dog is dangerous it will be destroyed. Only over 16’s can keep a banned breed that is not classed as dangerous by the court and it must be kept in a secure place.
There is currently a petition on UK government and parliaments website. This petition is to change the law on the dangerous dog act 1991 stop putting healthy dogs down. The description states ‘Innocent dogs and puppies are being put to sleep for no reason, just purely for the type of breed.’ They also say that ‘If they have done no harm and have been proven to be safe in public they have the right to live!’ There are currently 23,185 signatures on this petition but nothing can be improved or changed until this petition reaches 100,000 signatures. When this petition reaches 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in parliament. Many people believe that dangerous dogs are only dangerous because their owner trains them to be. There are also amounts of Facebook pages that encourage people to consider legalising the pit bull breed in the UK. There is one called ‘Fully legalise pit bulls in the UK’ currently 2,640 people have liked this page. This page shares stories about pit bulls doing good things for people and shaming people who have harmed the breed.
The dangerous dog act 1991 could be improved and was amended in 1997 as dogs where only reported after an incident had taken place. People who decide to ignore the law and keep pit bulls are wasting police resources and time also millions of pounds has been spent on kennelling these dogs. The law could be improved by the legislations not allowing dogs to be kept whether they are safe or not. Perhaps the dog only attacks on command and passes the non-aggressiveness tests yet continues to attack if commanded to do so by the owner. Being 16 years old is not old enough to keep a dangerous dog, they should only be kept by a capable adult that is at least 18 years old and perhaps the legislation should also introduce a course for pit bull owners so they know how to react in certain situations and learn about just how dangerous the breed can be. Pit bulls are described as being ‘against the law to keep’ and yet people can still keep this breed if they are not classed as dangerous to fully stamp out the breed from England Pit bulls should not be allowed to keep pit bulls no matter what.
In conclusion, pit bulls can be family loving pets and can be brought up to be nice dogs. However, like every breed of dog they do have a higher tendency to turn aggressive. At this moment in time pit bulls are a banned breed and although there are petitions taking place it could take many years before the dog is actually legalised in the UK.