A law has been in force in the UK for 30 years authorizing the killing of some dog breeds deemed dangerous, but it is time to abolish it
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
No more dogs condemned to death because of their breed! To ask in a loud voice is there RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), a British animal rights organization that has been fighting for years for the abolition of the legislation provided by the United Kingdom that prohibits owners from adopting or buying certain dog breeds, as they are considered dangerous a priori by their behavior. The so-called "Breed Specific Legislation" (BSL), which has been in force for 30 years in the country, annually authorizes the killing of hundreds of innocent dogs.
What the Breed Specific Legislation provides
The main purpose of the specific legislation on race is to protect citizens from possible aggression. Yet the data of the last few years do not seem to confirm the effectiveness of BSL. Hospital admissions due to dog bites continue to increase year on year.
In the last 20 years (1999-2019), in fact, the number of hospital admissions for the treatment of dog bites has increased by 154%, despite the ban on certain types of dogs. - Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals complaint - The legislation has not achieved what it set out to do. Simply put, BSL doesn't work.
In the UK, it is prohibited by law to keep four breeds indoors, in many cases bred for fighting: Pitbull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Braziliero. Breed-specific legislation was introduced 30 years ago in the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991. When one of these dogs is discovered by the police, they are kidnapped and locked up in a kennel. After a veterinary evaluation, it is determined if it is a potentially dangerous dog and in many cases they are then euthanized.
Legislation ineffective and to be abolished
However, there is currently no research that the breeds in question are more aggressive than others regardless.
Whether or not a dog is aggressive can be influenced by factors such as how they are raised and bred and experiences throughout their life - explains the RSPCA - Breed is not a good predictor of aggression risk. And despite the legislation, dog bites in the UK continue to increase. Breed-specific legislation not only fails to protect public safety, it has also resulted in the suffering and death of hundreds of dogs, which are considered "dangerous" simply because of their appearance.
To stop this brutal practice, the RSPCA has teamed up with other animal rights organizations, including Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, British Veterinary Association and The Kennel Club, which are against the absurd legislation.
But the RSPCA did not stop only at the request for the abolition of the Breed Specific Legislation. It has also drawn up a document in which the delicate issue is addressed and concrete and effective alternatives to the killing of dogs are proposed, starting with more severe penalties for owners who train dogs for fighting.
And, indeed, it is really absurd that a country like the United Kingdom, which in recent times has shown in different ways that it cares about animal welfare and that finally dogs, cats and other sentient beings species, continue to authorize this barbaric practice. , as well as ineffective for public safety.
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Source: RSPCA
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