PRESS RELEASE: 15 tails will still wag tonight Today the Merseyside Magistrates Courts spared fifteen lives. It's a result welcomed by DeedNOTBreed, The Kennel Club, concerned dog lovers - and most importantly, fourteen families who know their pets will return home soon. DeedNOTBreed have been present over the last two days as evidence has been presented by both Merseyside Police and the families of fifteen alleged pit bull type dogs seized as part of Merseyside Police so-called Amnesty. The group are overjoyed that all fifteen dogs will be returned to their owners in the near future, once restrictions including tattooing and neutering met. However, this fantastic result begs a very serious question: These dogs have been seized under section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act, yet a Court has decided they pose no threat to the public. This surely gives a very clear indication that not all dogs of type are any more dangerous than all dogs of any other set breed. As such, DeedNOTBreed sees this result as a small victory in what will be a long campaign: the campaign to target the dangerous end of the lead. Instead of legislation which targets dogs like the friendly family pets released today, the group calls for consultation between all interested parties to see the creation and introduction of a new, considered, workable solution to target the real issue: irresponsible owners. Overjoyed owner Richard Leigh says: ‘It's not dogs like mine who are the problem. Baby and Barney have never posed a threat to anyone in their lives , they been well trained and raised properly. I can't say just how made up I am to know that they’re finally coming home. However, there’s still along way to go. To quote DeedNOTBreed Spokesperson Ray Morrow: ‘We couldn’t’ have hoped for a better result today, but the right decision for fourteen families doesn't change the fact that the logic behind Breed Specific Legislation is fundamentally flawed. The Judge does not believe these dogs to be dangerous else she would not have allowed them on the register, yet the law itself is the "Dangerous Dogs act"
Thats a great statement by Deed not Breed. Its unbelievable that dogs not deemed to be dangerous, have to enter onto an index of exempted dogs which is part of a "dangerous dogs" legislation. So dogs that aren't dangerous are subject to dangerous dog laws. It makes me so frustrated. The people who introduced this and continue to support it (even wish for it to be extended), need there heads bashing together. Have they any common sense between them? Well done to the judge in this instance, she showed the public that the way a dog looks does not mean that they are automatically dangerous. She has a few brain cells and has used them wisely. At last, somebody has.
A good result but as you say it is the first step on what could be a long journey. Good luck to all concerned for future developments.
