Re: “Tiny pal saves girl in dog attack,” March 27.
While there are many things that must be done immediately to reduce dog attacks, breed-specific legislation is just not one of them.
Pit bulls are not inherently dangerous. They are loving, dedicated pets when treated well and trained properly. Any large-breed dog potentially poses a threat. Are we going to ban them all?
Breed-specific legislation is ineffective because it does not address the cause of the problems. It does not focus on dangerous dogs or dogs that have demonstrated dangerous behaviour. It does not stop or discourage irresponsible dog owners. It offers no incentives for the public to co-operate with animal control and manage their pets responsibly.
Dog attacks and aggression issues are usually a result of poor pet management and a lack of knowledge and training.
There is so much we can do to effectively deal with dangerous dogs and irresponsible dog owners. Animal control needs to focus its attention on the cause of the problems. Punish the guilty rather than law-abiding, responsible pet owners who trust their dog to protect them and their families.
Animal control can take preventive measures such as introducing mandatory obedience classes for large-breed dogs. They can organize programs that teach people, especially children, about dog behaviour and how to safely interact with them.
Tax dollars would be much better spent on education and training programs rather than on legal battles.
Breed-specific legislation does so much more harm than good and it has the potential to be disastrous.
Jaime Noddings
Victoria
