Legislation passes recently in Scotland has a different tack to dealing with dangerous dogs.
In most of the UK, the legislation is breed specific.
The new law in Scotland is bases around the deeds of a dog, not its breed. In other words a dog is considered dangerous if it is aggressive, whatever the breed. Plus no breed is considered naturally aggressive.
The president of the BVA (British Veterinary Association) said,” The key message is that any dog can show aggression, particularly if it is not handled and trained properly, so legislation that provides the tools to target irresponsible ownership before it becomes a problem is very welcome.”
The president-elect of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) added, “ A dog’s behaviour is largely the result of the rearing and training provided by the owner. The problems caused by dangerous dogs will never be solved until dog owners appreciate that they are responsible for the actions of their animals.”
The legislation was in part due to the findings of the Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group (DDASG), which in addition to the BVA included representatives from several Animal Shelters and Rescue Organizations, the Kennel Club, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and dog experts.
It will be interesting if the rest of the UK will adopt the same legislation.
photo credit: cstreet.us
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