BANNED UK DOG BREEDS: IS THE LAW CORRECT?
Source: Daily Post (Extract)
Posted: November 14, 2021
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits the ownership of certain breeds of dangerous dogs that could seriously harm or kill a human being.
It establishes a criminal offence for any individual that owns such a type of dog.
Under the Act, it is illegal to own any of the following four dogs in the UK:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
Government advice states: “If your dog matches many of the characteristics of a Pit Bull Terrier, it may be a banned type.”
All four dogs are commonly used in dog fighting, an illegal practice that has been around for centuries.
The Pit Bull terrier is from England, and was originally bred to be a vicious fighting dog.
It was a popular choice for blood sports in the 18th and 19th century.
Blood sports, such as bull and bear baiting, involved a large animal being placed in a pit, with a pack of dogs then being set upon it.
This practice was banned in 1835, however dog fighting continued as it became harder to police.
The Japanese Tosa was also a blood sport dog, however it was forced to fight in Asia.
The other two illegal breeds, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro, were both South American dogs that were used to hunt large mammals such as wild boar and puma.
When they were brought to the UK, they were primarily used as fighting dogs too.
Those found to be in possession of a banned breed of dog can receive an unlimited fine, up to six months in jail, or both.
Campaigners argue that other breeds aren’t classed as banned despite also having caused fatalities.
Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “While we fully support legislation to protect the public, we believe any breed of dog can be potentially out of control and dangerous in the wrong hands.
“We’d like to see a bigger focus on legislation that ensures responsible dog ownership rather than punishing individual dogs for the way they look if they haven’t harmed anyone.
“At the very least, we’d like to see the law amended so banned breeds and types who come into our care can be rehomed.”
