Ennvironment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Written evidence submitted by Nicole Bruck

BSL needs to be repealed immediately. BSL is ineffective, irresponsible and a waste of tax payer money. It does NOTHING to stop the problem of “dangerous” dogs and instead punishes responsible owners and kills innocent family dogs.

Pit bulls are gentle, loving and loyal. And, like any dog raised responsibly, they make great family pets.

No breed of dog is inherently aggressive or vicious.

Resident dogs kept for guarding, breeding or fighting are victims.

All dogs deserve humane care, socialization and training.

In the hopes that you want reliable and factual information on the subject of breed-specific legislation, an excellent five-year study was published in the United States in Cincinnati Law Review in 1982, vol. 53, which specifically considered both Rottweilers and “Pit Bulls” and concluded in part that:

“... the statistics did not support the assertion that any one breed was dangerous. ... when legislation is focused on the type of dog it fails because it is unenforceable, confusing, and costly. ... focusing legislation on dogs that are “vicious” distracts attention from the real problem, which is irresponsible dog ownership.”

In light of this and other studies, we need legislation that renders owners liable for the actions of their pets. The appropriate policy should be “blame the owner, not the dog.” It is not the automobile that kills innocent people; it is the driver of that vehicle. People commit crimes in society, not dogs. The safety of dogs and our children largely depend on the responsible actions of adults. You must make dog owners accountable for the actions of their dogs!

Government needs the guidance of responsible, law-abiding citizens. Otherwise it will be the most reactive elements of society that end up writing the laws.

In temperament tests, the American Pit Bull Terrier scored HIGHER than the Golden Retriever.

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April 2013