What could a local council spend $90,000 on to help reduce dog attacks in their community?
– A year long weekend training course for around 900 dogs and their owners
– A super-intensive training and socialisation course for around 100 dogs and their owners
– A community dog-behaviour phone ‘helpline’ for about 1 year
– An ‘unrestricted’ grant-based assistance program, to provide fencing, training or desexing as required for around 200 dogs deemed to be ‘at risk’.
– they could pump that money directly into the pockets of lawyers and dog impoundment facilities to try and seize and kill TWO friendly dogs because of how they looked.
Darebin Council has tried to rid the city of just two dogs since tough restricted-breed laws were introduced.
The case cost the council more than $90,000 in legal fees, impound and vet costs.
The Council’s decision to declare the dogs was overturned on appeal to VCAT on one of the dogs with the other case going to the Supreme Court – the entire saga costing them $92,900. Both dogs – Tia and Jet – have now gone home.
Darebin Council spokesperson Paul Crapper said two more possible ‘pit bulls’ had been identified in the City but that “neither dog had enough characteristics to satisfy the legal standard for the breed”, showing clearly that not only are these laws a complete waste of rate payer’s money, but that councils are realising they cannot identify with any kind of certainty, a dog’s breed by a government- fantasized, arbitrary visual standard.
I wonder how much more money will be wasted before this ridiculous law is abolished.
They could also put up signs around roads with tips on being a responsible owner.
Wonder what rate payers would think if they knew the truth of where there money goes? I could list thousands of things I’m sure they would rather the money be spent on!
Do council workers just take a 2 hour crash course in identifying crossbred dogs? BSL is utter bollocks. I’ll eat my own toes if someone responsible for enforcing BSL can correctly identify the breeds of every dog they come across.
Responsible ownership is not taken into considering with BSL. It is entirely based on a dogs looks. Not even scientific determination of DNA (ie breed) is required. It’s a pathetically expensive and pointless law. I am all for responsible pet ownership but to seize dogs that have done nothing is truly outrageous. Pet owners have a right to feel safe for themselves and their pets just as much as every other member of the community has a right to feel safe for themselves and their families.
How about simply a dedicated fenced off dog exercise area or two in each Municipally that is fenced off in the middle big dogs one side, small dogs on the other, child proof gates in between & either end … Water fountain & poop bag dispenser in the centre!!!! Owners responsible for the behaviour of their Dogs!!! Must be 16 or older to be alone & in control of the dog in the parks otherwise supervised by a Parent or an Adult that is in Charge of the Dogs Behaviour & obedience,
Should parent choose to bring children into a Dog exercise area the are then also responsible for the behaviour of their children & their interaction towards strangers Dogs!!! As it is not a playground!!!!
Create a safe space where DOGS ARE RESPECTED!!!!