Legal requirement to report dangerous breeds

Re: Legal requirement to report dangerous breeds

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:08:09 GMT

Ah, the classic "make it somebody else's problem" - if they can't do the owner for illegal pet owning, let's do the vet for not reporting it? (pardon the cynicism, my back is acting up this morning.)

Re: Legal requirement to report dangerous breeds

jd2008 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 00:26:19 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

It is a very long road from Barristers and a Coroner suggesting something to it becoming legislation. If it does happen rapidly it is likely to be as big a mess as the Dangerous Dogs Act in the UK.

Legislate in hurry, repent at leisure!

[/quote]

We already have BSL in Victoria. Any pitbull brought into (or bred in) Victoria after 2010 is unable to be registered and effectively illegal. All other pitbulls must be neutered, chipped, registered with the council etc etc. From what I can tell the legislation has been as effective here as it has been in the UK.

So, it seems the move now is to look for ways to better enforce the ineffective legislation

Hence the potential move to force vets to be the gatekeepers of this legislation

Re: Legal requirement to report dangerous breeds

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 23:49:19 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Legislate in hurry, repent at leisure![/quote]

Have you ever known a politician repent?

Re: Legal requirement to report dangerous breeds

Bob Russell — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 15:46:32 GMT

It is a very long road from Barristers and a Coroner suggesting something to it becoming legislation. If it does happen rapidly it is likely to be as big a mess as the Dangerous Dogs Act in the UK.

Legislate in hurry, repent at leisure!

Re: Legal requirement to report dangerous breeds

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 16:34:00 GMT

Teachers, doctors, veterinary surgeons, mandatory reporting of this, that or the freakin' other, whatever's obsessing the meeja or the Public at that moment..................

This is still – just about – a free country, and I'll "report" (report to whom? And what will they do about it?) what my conscience tells me to, and not otherwise.

Re: Legal requirement to report dangerous breeds

Nicola Lawlor — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 10:50:51 GMT

[quote user="Tim Cheyne"]

I do not see how vets can be made responsible for reporting 'dangerous' dogs. The complaint must come from the public to the police who then ask the vet to deal. not the other way round.

Tim.

[/quote]

I agree, but the police need to take these reports more seriously too. It seems more often than not when clients have reported dogs to the police that nothing happens. We had a spate of dog attacks all from the same dog as people walked down the same road. Repeated reports to the police achieved nothing at all. The RSPCA finally got involved for us and gave the owner some advice about keeping their dog restrained etc and we had no further issues.

Re: Legal requirement to report dangerous breeds

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 10:44:52 GMT

There is no such thing as a bad dog only irresponsible owners.

I have said before I believe that we have a responsibility to the animal. If someone brings an animal for treatment that should have been seen sooner or been involved in something a little 'dodgy' then I really don't care about reporting anyone. That's not my job - I am not there to police anything.

IF people think they will get into trouble for bringing animals to the vets then they won't bring them to us and more suffering will go on.

Re: Legal requirement to report dangerous breeds

Tim Cheyne — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 10:22:26 GMT

[quote user="Lorna McHardy"]I also think breedspecific legislation... no, I'm not opening that can of worms [/quote]

Yes, it is a can of worms because several 'acceptable' breeds have been involved recently in child savaging cases. Pitbulls, Staffies, Rotties and the like are obvious Aunt Sallies but the problem is really irresponsible and ignorant owners with badly trained and managed dogs, including spaniels (one of the most treacherous in my opinion), terriers and even poodles. I do not see how vets can be made responsible for reporting 'dangerous' dogs. The complaint must come from the public to the police who then ask the vet to deal. not the other way round.

Tim.

Re: Legal requirement to report dangerous breeds

Lorna McHardy — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 09:39:58 GMT

I don't think I could reliably recognize a "pitbull type" if I saw one... staffies come in so many shapes and sizes.

I also think breedspecific legislation... no, I'm not opening that can of worms

Re: Legal requirement to report dangerous breeds

Tim Cheyne — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 05:07:46 GMT

While I agree with you completely about the possible implications, your experience does emphasise what I was taught for various reasons; in a court of law, only answer succinctly the question put to you; do not elaborate unless further questioning requires you to do so. Let the odium fall on others.

Tim.