Post by RealPitBull on Jan 12, 2009 15:49:40 GMT -5
Dangerous Dogs Act Breakthrough: RSPCA Back Calls For Immediate End to BSL
January 7, 2009 by Alison Green
In a landmark event, the UK's largest animal welfare charity the RSPCA has
joined forces with DDAWatch and the Coalition For improved Dog Ownership
Standards (C-fidos) to publicly call for an end to the unfair law that
results in dogs being deemed 'dangerous' as a result of their physical
appearance.
For the first time, the UK's most prominent animal welfare organisation has
been prepared to publicly support calls for a repeal of section 1 of the
Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) - Section 1 is the part of the legislation which
bans dogs based on their breed or type.
Section 1 of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act is a highly controversial and
widely criticised clause that promotes breed specific legislation. Many
experts, law makers and dog lovers from around the UK and globally have seen
the devastation caused by breed specific legislation - which outlaws dogs by
'type', meaning a dog is deemed 'dangerous' and illegal simply based on what
it looks like and not because of any offence caused by the dog. As a result
of breed specific legislation (BSL) in the UK, many innocent dogs have lost
their lives since the law was brought in by Ken Baker in 1991.
Now the RSPCA has set the wheels in motion for other prominent welfare
groups to come out and publicly call on the law makers to end section 1 and
replace it with fair, effective dog laws which do not condemn dogs to death
based on what the look like. The UK can put itself in a position to follow
the example set by the Netherlands in repealing section 1 in favour of a law
that will place the burden of responsibility on owners rather than
terminating the lives of dogs who are guilty of nothing more than looking a
certain way.
The move comes about following a productive and engaging meeting between the
RSPCA's Government Relations Manager, Claire Robinson, DDAWatch and the C-
fidos at the end of 2008.
The RSPCA public backing for repeal gives anti BSL campaigners the boost
they have been waiting for while sending a clear message to the Government
that section 1 of the DDA is a failed, unfair concept that needs to be
reformed without delay.
DDAWatch - an anti BSL campaign group - has congratulated the RSPCA on the
decision to call for action having been previously disheartened to hear many
organisations publicly state anti BSL positions but falling short of
actually calling for an immediate repeal of section 1.
Alison Green of DDAWatch:
"We are so thrilled to see the RSPCA step up to the plate on such an
important issue that has cost the lives of many innocent dogs. For those
people who have been actively involved in fighting section 1 cases, for
those of us who've seen dog owner's lives ripped apart by this appalling
law, which has not protected the public at all, this announcement from the
RSPCA will hopefully herald the start of many more calls for repeal and
eventually the repeal itself. Now owners and anti BSL campaigners alike have
some hope to cling to after so many false dawns. Now we have the opportunity
of a lifetime to finally get the Government to see sense. They need to
listen to the RSPCA and make the right call. Section 1 has been an
unmitigated failure and an animal welfare disaster. It is such a relief to
hear the RSPCA being brave and honest enough to publicly call for a repeal
where other influential and supposedly anti BSL organisations have fallen
short, instead citing 'political climate' as a reason to keep BSL."
Ryan O'Meara, chief executive of C-fidos:
"This is truly great news. It seems such a simple thing to do, to publicly
support an end to BSL - especially given that the RSPCA and other major
animal welfare organisations have publicly stated their position as being
anti BSL - but despite the anti BSL positions held by many organisations and
individuals we still have BSL and we have it because we still have section 1
of the DDA. The way to end BSL is to end section 1 and replace it. The RSPCA
coming in with public support for the position held by C-fidos and DDAWatch
gives legitimacy and momentum to campaigners to call on their government to
end BSL. It's no longer a concept, being anti BSL, it's a real, tangible
opportunity to call the government to account over a highly unfair,
unpopular and completely unsuccessful law."
Author Details
Alison is a long time dog owner and dangerous dog legislation observer who
lives with her family and four Bull Breed dogs in Sussex.
www.dogmagaz ine.net/archives /1645/dangerous- dogs-act- breakthrough- rsp
ca-back-calls- for-immediate- end-to-bsl/
January 7, 2009 by Alison Green
In a landmark event, the UK's largest animal welfare charity the RSPCA has
joined forces with DDAWatch and the Coalition For improved Dog Ownership
Standards (C-fidos) to publicly call for an end to the unfair law that
results in dogs being deemed 'dangerous' as a result of their physical
appearance.
For the first time, the UK's most prominent animal welfare organisation has
been prepared to publicly support calls for a repeal of section 1 of the
Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) - Section 1 is the part of the legislation which
bans dogs based on their breed or type.
Section 1 of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act is a highly controversial and
widely criticised clause that promotes breed specific legislation. Many
experts, law makers and dog lovers from around the UK and globally have seen
the devastation caused by breed specific legislation - which outlaws dogs by
'type', meaning a dog is deemed 'dangerous' and illegal simply based on what
it looks like and not because of any offence caused by the dog. As a result
of breed specific legislation (BSL) in the UK, many innocent dogs have lost
their lives since the law was brought in by Ken Baker in 1991.
Now the RSPCA has set the wheels in motion for other prominent welfare
groups to come out and publicly call on the law makers to end section 1 and
replace it with fair, effective dog laws which do not condemn dogs to death
based on what the look like. The UK can put itself in a position to follow
the example set by the Netherlands in repealing section 1 in favour of a law
that will place the burden of responsibility on owners rather than
terminating the lives of dogs who are guilty of nothing more than looking a
certain way.
The move comes about following a productive and engaging meeting between the
RSPCA's Government Relations Manager, Claire Robinson, DDAWatch and the C-
fidos at the end of 2008.
The RSPCA public backing for repeal gives anti BSL campaigners the boost
they have been waiting for while sending a clear message to the Government
that section 1 of the DDA is a failed, unfair concept that needs to be
reformed without delay.
DDAWatch - an anti BSL campaign group - has congratulated the RSPCA on the
decision to call for action having been previously disheartened to hear many
organisations publicly state anti BSL positions but falling short of
actually calling for an immediate repeal of section 1.
Alison Green of DDAWatch:
"We are so thrilled to see the RSPCA step up to the plate on such an
important issue that has cost the lives of many innocent dogs. For those
people who have been actively involved in fighting section 1 cases, for
those of us who've seen dog owner's lives ripped apart by this appalling
law, which has not protected the public at all, this announcement from the
RSPCA will hopefully herald the start of many more calls for repeal and
eventually the repeal itself. Now owners and anti BSL campaigners alike have
some hope to cling to after so many false dawns. Now we have the opportunity
of a lifetime to finally get the Government to see sense. They need to
listen to the RSPCA and make the right call. Section 1 has been an
unmitigated failure and an animal welfare disaster. It is such a relief to
hear the RSPCA being brave and honest enough to publicly call for a repeal
where other influential and supposedly anti BSL organisations have fallen
short, instead citing 'political climate' as a reason to keep BSL."
Ryan O'Meara, chief executive of C-fidos:
"This is truly great news. It seems such a simple thing to do, to publicly
support an end to BSL - especially given that the RSPCA and other major
animal welfare organisations have publicly stated their position as being
anti BSL - but despite the anti BSL positions held by many organisations and
individuals we still have BSL and we have it because we still have section 1
of the DDA. The way to end BSL is to end section 1 and replace it. The RSPCA
coming in with public support for the position held by C-fidos and DDAWatch
gives legitimacy and momentum to campaigners to call on their government to
end BSL. It's no longer a concept, being anti BSL, it's a real, tangible
opportunity to call the government to account over a highly unfair,
unpopular and completely unsuccessful law."
Author Details
Alison is a long time dog owner and dangerous dog legislation observer who
lives with her family and four Bull Breed dogs in Sussex.
www.dogmagaz ine.net/archives /1645/dangerous- dogs-act- breakthrough- rsp
ca-back-calls- for-immediate- end-to-bsl/