Police & Rspca Seizing Dogs In Merseyside Parks

[owl]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/merseyside-police-launch-six-week-crackdown-4711712

 

They have already managed to seize a purebred staffy with papers. DDA Watch are advising owner.

 

RSPCA officer got talking with the people and offered to check chip, next thing they are surrounded by police.

 

So anyone who has a big staffy or staffy x in that area, be aware that this is going on.

 

[Loo]

Oh the story of that staffy being seized is so sad. Is there actual legislation to allow this? The RSPCA have no powers.

[blackmagic]

Oh the story of that staffy being seized is so sad. Is there actual legislation to allow this? The RSPCA have no powers.

But the police do and it is the police who did the seizing. They do not need a warrant if the dog is in a public place.

 

from DEFRA's website

 

Whether your dog is a banned type depends on what it looks like, rather than its breed or name.

 

So a registered staffy which meets the criteria/ measurements for a pit bull type will be considered a banned type.

 

 

 

The police would be better following up the reports from neighbours about out of control dogs. SO often when there is an incident it is reported that people have previously complained about the dog t nothing has been done.

[smirnoff]

This is horrible. And the legislation is vague if it says that it's what it looks like rather than what it is. What's the point of banning specific breeds and then extending it to dogs who look similar. Who decides they look similar anyway?

 

Really hope DDA Watch can sort this out. And as you say there are so many dogs who are out of control and the police do nothing.

[Ian]

So, it could be seen as one law for a police dog handler & dog who burst into a private garden & allowed the dog to bite a 10 year old but another for dogs who haven't actually bitten anyone just because of their looks?

 

Dangerous dogs obviously need to be controlled but I can't see this approach engaging too many dog lovers personally

[owl]

Deed Not Breed LTD and The Bull Breed Advisory Service.

Re:Merseyside Police-Timescales.
We've been in talks with the police and force solicitor today and have made some suggestions for speeding up the process for owners and dogs. We have suggested that DEFRA supply exemption application forms to the police in ADVANCE of court hearings as they already do with one or two other forces. We have asked that the police officer or force solicitor take these application forms to court on the day of the hearing, and owners will be asked to take along their postal order for £92.40 (payable to DEFRA) Along with proof of insurance. This way, the owners can obtain a copy of the court order and application form and post it on the day of the hearing. Defra will get it next day and the police will then be able to arrange vet work and return of the dog within days. Merseyside police have now spoken to DEFRA, have application forms ready and have agreed to trial this, with the first case being one of our owners on Wednesday this week:-) We have also asked the force solicitors office to try and book hearings for Mon/Tues wherever possible as dogs should then be home by the following weekend. This will vastly speed things up and will also keep those kennelling costs down for owners. If all goes to plan, dogs should be spending no more than a few days in kennels after the hearings. It works well in other areas and should also work well here:-) Our thanks to Merseyside Police dog section and force solicitors for taking the time to speak with us both for several hours today and for agreeing to trial this:-)

[Yantan]

Well done DNB

[blackmagic]

Indeed, but it is a pity their services are needed in the first place.

 

A case af making the best of a bad law.

[buddyboy]

What makes this even more morally wrong (using the case of this staffy) is that the dog is CHIPPED, with tablets etc providing internet access anywhere there is a signal (or mobile broadband) if there is someone on hand who is offering to scan the dog it can be seen immediately if the details match those of the person with the dog.............. it is a simple case of logging in to the databases (and yes I have done it so know how easy it is) - there are forces where the dogs are left with the owner until assessment and quite honestly if someone is walking their chipped dog in a public park they are hardly likely to abscond. Instead the dogs are seized, stressed, the owners are stressed and are then billed for kennelling on top of paying for the privilege of having their own, socialised dog at home with them. I doubt very much that many of the dogs who are meant to be targeted are actually being taken out to public parks to mix with other people since the publicity about the crackdown.

 

There is no way I would take my boys to Merseyside or other areas where this heavy handed approach is taking place - they are both temperament assess Pets as Therapy dogs, both chipped, neutered and insured - and Jed especially would become very stressed in kennels. I have read through the measurements used for determining if a dog is "type" and ANY medium sized dog could match several of them - in fact a Labrador could well tick more of the boxes than Bo ....... but he is a Staffie X, need I say more!