Nettie Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 Wandsworth Council's monthly magazine has just landed on my doorstep, and this article appears on page 4 Control your dog - or lose your home Housing estate residents who own fighting dogs could risk losing their home if they fail to ensure the animal is properly controlled. The tough sanction applies not just to council tenants but any friend or relative who they allow to bring a dog onto their premises. The council will not hesitate to use powers in its tenancy regulations to protect neighbours and other residents from animals which are encouraged to behave in an intimidating manner. People with concerns about the way a dog is being treated can report these in confidence to the council’s 24 hour helpline on (020) 8871 7532. This number can be used to alert the council’s dog control team to any instance of irresponsible dog ownership at any address in the borough. The council is also seeking legislation aimed at bringing back the dog licence. It has outlined the proposal to ministers and is now seeking the backing of other London boroughs. The new licence would be restricted to pit bull type dogs and others not currently classified under the Dangerous Dogs Act. To qualify the owner would have to pass a fit and proper person test and pay a substantial fee that would help to pay for effective enforcement of the scheme. Council leader Edward Lister explained: The problem is that just about anyone can own a dog. Most of the problems we have today are caused by young people aged between 13 and 17 who keep these menacing dogs but have no understanding of the responsibilities of ownership. A borough like Wandsworth with a dedicated dog control unit and a 24 hour hotline for worried residents would be a perfect place to trial a new licensing scheme. You can report problems with dogs on (020) 8871 7532. http://www.e-brightside.com/0802/news_2.php At least the Council are putting the onus on owners to keep control of their dogs rather than banning breeds, however the licence is only going to be for to quote "pit bull type dogs and others not currenly classified under the Dangerous Dogs Act." I'm just wondering what breeds 'others not classifed under the DDA' will be. I know that Mark Callis who is in charge of the Council's Parks Police/Dog Control Officers is very much on the side of 'Deed not Breed' and am sure is advising the Council. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 The new licence would be restricted to pit bull type dogs and others not currently classified under the Dangerous Dogs Act. To qualify the owner would have to pass a fit and proper person test and pay a substantial fee that would help to pay for effective enforcement of the scheme. Are they actually aware that the pitbull type dog is illegal and that the only way you can currently keep one is by going to court and having it added to the index? And as for fighting dogs - is this going to be another form of localised BSL that affects those dogs that just happen to have been born of a certain physical appearance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumpole Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 oh dear wot she said why not do it for all breeds, any owner of any breed could be irresponsible. ooh sorry no cos that might lose you votes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allie No Dots Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 The new licence would be restricted to pit bull type dogs and others not currently classified under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Oh look. someone else who clearly misunderstands the current laws. Maybe wandsworth want to tell merseyside to stop siezing pit types cos they arent classified under the DDA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murtle Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 To be honest I read that as "fighting dogs" any dogs used for the purposes of fighting/threatening. It appears to not have been limited to breed.... The new licence would be restricted to pit bull type dogs and others not currently classified under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Pit bull types - will be restricted and oOther (dogs) not currently classified under the DDA (i.e. any dog that is believed to be being used for fighting. That's how I read it, and I hope that is how Wandsworth have meant it. I would be interested to know how they will confirm that the dogs are/have been used for fighting.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allie No Dots Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 right.So still BSL but more breeds. Yay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nettie Posted February 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 but on the positive side, (I think) they aren't banning any breeds from council accomodation, they are putting the onus on owners to keep their dogs under control unlike some councils - they also aren't walking the streets seizing dogs just for the hell of it. Isn't that deed not breed? As far as I can see this paragraph doesn't relate to any particular breed: People with concerns about the way a dog is being treated can report these in confidence to the council’s 24 hour helpline on (020) 8871 7532. This number can be used to alert the council’s dog control team to any instance of irresponsible dog ownership at any address in the borough. Personally I don't think dog licencing will work as those who are responsible owners will get their licences, those that aren't probably won't bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumpole Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 it is deed AND breed as i read it the assumption that only certain breeds and breed types require a license is breed specific when someone with a brown mongtrel doesnt need to bother and his dog can do what it wants i take offence at the suggestion that because of the type of dog i own i am irresponsible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rileyroo Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 From the conversations I've had with Wandsworth Councillors over this, Lister certainly intends to add a whole load more breeds (Rotties, GSDs, Staffies etc) rather than focusing on individual owners / dogs and their actions. He's a glory hunting *rs**ole intent on nothing more than self publicity and pandering to the media hype of dangerous dogs, ignorance and inflated perception of risk. If a dog is truly dangerous, why does paying £500 to own it suddenly make it acceptable? Why does being able to afford £500 suddenly make me a responsible owner - regardless of my actions and intentions for my dog? The dogs on the posh side of my estate are the ones regularly off lead on the roadside, let out of their gardens unattended and not cleaned up after - the local 'pit bull types' on the whole are well socialised, well exercised, on lead where appropriate and their owners pick up after them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nettie Posted February 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 it is deed AND breed as i read it the assumption that only certain breeds and breed types require a license is breed specific when someone with a brown mongtrel doesnt need to bother and his dog can do what it wantsi take offence at the suggestion that because of the type of dog i own i am irresponsible I don't think I said that, I did say that those irresponsible dog owners would not bother getting a license not that all bull breed owners were irresponsible. From the conversations I've had with Wandsworth Councillors over this, Lister certainly intends to add a whole load more breeds (Rotties, GSDs, Staffies etc) rather than focusing on individual owners / dogs and their actions.He's a glory hunting *rs**ole intent on nothing more than self publicity and pandering to the media hype of dangerous dogs, ignorance and inflated perception of risk. If a dog is truly dangerous, why does paying £500 to own it suddenly make it acceptable? Why does being able to afford £500 suddenly make me a responsible owner - regardless of my actions and intentions for my dog? The dogs on the posh side of my estate are the ones regularly off lead on the roadside, let out of their gardens unattended and not cleaned up after - the local 'pit bull types' on the whole are well socialised, well exercised, on lead where appropriate and their owners pick up after them. Agreed the licence is ridiculous but you can always phone on the 24 hour line and report any of those 'posh' dog owners that have out of control dogs, the phone line isn't limited to bull breeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumpole Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 I don't think I said that, I did say that those irresponsible dog owners would not bother getting a license not that all bull breed owners were irresponsible sorry i didnt mean you i meant the council Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumpole Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 http://www.adbadog.com/uploads/pdf%20forms...anuscriptV4.pdf been looking for this its an american study as we dont have pit bulls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melp Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 Thats a really interesting study. As for Wandsworth council-ffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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