Breed Specific Legislation in Action:
This is the sort of suffering typically caused by Breed Specific Legislation. Could this dog look more like a boxer cross? For the truth about boxers go here: http://www.boxer-dog.org/
From Left: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Boxer, Ty.
Ty, a 15 month old Boxer cross, was seized by police and dog wardens after housing officials received a complaint that he was a Pit Bull Terrier "type" dog.
Ty's owner, Jamie Sharples (21), of Wardham Close, Westhoughton, had pleaded guilty to owning a designated fighting dog and a special hearing was held to decide whether Ty should be destroyed or put on the exemption register.
Richard Briden, prosecuting, said the dog posed a risk to Jamie's one-month-old daughter, but the exemption register only covered a danger to the public and not those within his own home.
Jamie told the court that the dog had never been aggressive and had been supervised around young children, including his niece and nephew.
"I trained him myself and if he tried to bite anyone I would have him put down. I would not take the chance that he could do it again.
"I have never had any trouble with him, he just likes to chill with me."
The court heard that Jamie, who has owned the dog for 12 months, was unaware it was a pit bull-type dog, but experts found it came under the Dangerous Dogs Act, although it was not a pure breed (or even part Pit Bull!).
Dr Roger Mugford, who aided and abetted Lord Kenneth Baker in bringing BSL to the U.K. said: "The owner can be forgiven for not knowing the dog type. It is an expert knowledge".
"As a puppy it would not have been apparent to me, let alone Sharples" Mugford asserted. "It is a cross between a Staffordshire bull terrier and a boxer".
In fact a recent study by a veterinary behaviourist showed that even so-called experts get their best guess at breed wrong more often than not.
"I did some tests on the dog and I found him to be delightful" Mugford proclaimed. What a strange co-incidence. That's what the American Temperament Test Society found out about Pit Bulls too! Could there be a connection between Bull Terriers and delightful temperaments? Someone should tell Nanaia Mahuta - Labour MP for Tainui before she brings about a mandatory spay/neuter attack on the NZ family pet.
Ty has dropped 10kg in weight since his incarceration which is more than a third of his previous body weight of 28kgs. The distress and confusion suffered by this dog is legally sanctioned cruelty and obviously completely unjustifiable.
Magistrates, in their 'wisdom', put Ty on the exemption register, which means Jamie must have him neutered, microchipped, tattooed, insured and muzzled, and on a lead at all times in public. If the conditions are breached the dog will be destroyed.
Jamie was given a 12-month conditional discharge.
After the hearing Jamie, who will get Ty back in a few weeks, said: "I feel really happy that Ty will finally be able to come home after six months of not knowing". The distress and confusion suffered by this family is legally sanctioned cruelty and obviously completely unjustifiable.
"He has not been treated well when he has been in the kennels, but hopefully he will be back to his usual self soon" Jamie said.
