Pit Bull reporting

Re: Pit Bull reporting

David Mills — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 11:47:06 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]Anybody here working for PDSA/similar charities? I know a vet friend who worked at PDSA or RPSCA in London (can't remember which!) who saw these dogs daily, and the 'turn a blind eye' approach was taken.[/quote]

Yup, we used ti see them daily when I was at the BX in London. Usually described as King Staffies, Bue Staffies, and my favourite oxymoron, American Staffies. Pure anecdote, but they were no worse or no better than 'normal' Staffies. Interestingly, truw Staffis are hard to find these days - traditionally, they are quite small dogs, around the size of a big cocker (13-14kg), and were originally lap dogs for gentlewomen in the midlands. Mad world.

As others have said, there is no obligation to police the situation whatsoever unless animal welfare priorities override things. In the event that anything did happen, you'd be no more culpable than, say, their next door neighbour. The only time we used to do anything was if the dog was obviously used for fighting, but most people with an ounce of intelligence wouldn't go to the vets with these injuries.

Re: Pit Bull reporting

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 10:31:01 GMT

This is probably a labx staffie-and as soft as 99% of labs

Wynne

Re: Pit Bull reporting

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 00:58:53 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]What are our obligations as vets to report suspected pit bull dogs? [/quote]

None.

Unless there is a matter of such over-riding public importance that confidentiality should be breached. Which in this case there is not.

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]The only thing we have to suspect this dog is what it looks like. [/quote] The owner has informed you that it is a Staffie Cross. It's not up to you to suspect anything. Do you believe it is used or intended for illegal dog fighting?

Re: Pit Bull reporting

James Laidlaw — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 00:27:30 GMT

Regardless of opinion, it's worth advising them on the law surrounding the breed. https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/banned-dogs

Re: Pit Bull reporting

Francisco Gomez — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 00:04:50 GMT

[quote user="Francisco Gomez"][quote user="tess"]

The control of the dog is the responsibility of the owner, regardless of the breed.

[/quote] Thank you!!!

[/quote] Just today (again) an owner told me that they prefer to see me (specifically) for post op because the nurse is not firm enough with him (the dog). My nurse only wants to come back home ALIVE! For god's sake!

Re: Pit Bull reporting

Francisco Gomez — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 00:01:18 GMT

[quote user="tess"]

The control of the dog is the responsibility of the owner, regardless of the breed.

[/quote] Thank you!!!

Re: Pit Bull reporting

tess — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 23:56:00 GMT

Another thought Anon: we all see nasty dogs of all different types, which owners struggle to control. We don't report those to anyone, we just make a note on the record. The control of the dog is the responsibility of the owner, regardless of the breed.

I remember seeing a Cocker Spaniel which had put a client's 10 year old son in hospital by biting him on the scrotum (this wasn't the first time he had been bitten). He didn't want euthanasia, didn't want castration or referral for behaviour. He got really angry with me because I couldn't wave a magic wand and make it all better. That dog should have been put to sleep.

Re: Pit Bull reporting

Stephen Courtney — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 23:54:15 GMT

As far as I know there is no legal obligation to report suspicions. If the owner outright told you it was a Pitbull, that might be different - but in that case I would ( and have ) warn the client that the breed is banned, so call it a Staffie cross etc . Had the odd client who didn't know that Pit bulls were banned, and was very proud of having a Pittie

Your client is both unlikely to be reading these posts - you have to be a member - and unlikely to connect his animal with your concerns. but i take your point, i wouldn't want to get ,mied up in aggro either. i think you are worrying needlessly. If the dog ever causes problems ( because the owner isn't taking due care) then its appearance may result in the police treating it as pit bill, if there are any cops around who know what one is, but that is not your problem. no more so than if it was an aggressive rottie - perfectly legal and far more dangerous.

Re: Pit Bull reporting

An On MRCVS — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 23:45:26 GMT

Anon because the client is not the most pleasant of types and if I can avoid any hassle I will! I am uneasy with the way these dogs are kept when seized, the whole process seems flawed, this client would be utterly devastated if the dog was taken from them, it presents no threat to us in the behaviour displayed and is registered as a 'Staffie cross'. I know that at the moment, the best thing in terms of welfare for the dog is to stay with the owner. I don't want to report, but if I am legally obliged I will need to speak to VDS etc. as you say.

Anybody here working for PDSA/similar charities? I know a vet friend who worked at PDSA or RPSCA in London (can't remember which!) who saw these dogs daily, and the 'turn a blind eye' approach was taken.

Re: Pit Bull reporting

Stephen Courtney — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 23:43:32 GMT

As I said, badly thought out legislation that caused loads of misery and apparently has not got rid of the breed either. In times when even Jack Russels have killed kids ( admittedly tiny ones...) perhaps all dogs should be banned?

The issue is not the breed but allowing thugs with status dogs to do what they like. I'll bet if the owner of the Pittie was scary dangerous criminal the cops would have done nothing - as they have in all the other situations - which is why we still have pit bull types around. The law should require people to keep their animals under control at all times, then no issues.

Re: Pit Bull reporting

Francisco Gomez — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 23:43:08 GMT

Unfortunately, and due to how decisions are made nowadays, best thing you can do is to convince yourself that that dog was not a pitbull. It was a chihuahua, fullstop.

Re: Pit Bull reporting

tess — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 23:37:40 GMT

I had a similar scenario a few years after the Pit Bull legislation came in, in the 90s. The dog came in with suspected demodex and the owner actually registered it with the practice as a Pit Bull. It was to young to have been neutered/chipped/tattooed/registered etc, by the cut off date, so had obviously been bred illegally. He was apparently unaware of the legislation. On the face of it, its temperament seemed ok. My boss took a look at it and after a brief discussion we advised him we would be calling the police for advice .The owner said he would be happy to comply with whatever he needed to do to get it registered.

I phoned the police to explain the situation to be met with " it can't be a young Pit Bull- they're banned." It was like banging my head on a brick wall. They just didn't seem to comprehend that people were continuing to breed them illegally. In the end they visited the man, seized the dog and it was put to sleep. The owner phoned us in distress as he had brought the dog to the surgery for a skin complaint and ended up with a dead dog.

If only he had registered it as a Staffie cross...

Re: Pit Bull reporting

Stephen Courtney — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 23:36:44 GMT

I've seen only one pitbull that was acknowledged as such, back in the day when they were all neutered , muzzled in public and carried third party liability cover 9 wishful thinking, i believe) . there should be none left by now......

I would hesitate to ever accuse a dog of being a pitbull, particularly with the flawed legislation that governs this. I'm not sure what defines a pitbull, and other than them being 'big Staffies' I'm not sure anyone else does either. there is a police section that acts in cases of suspected pitbulls, and i would leave any identification to them.

If I was in your position I would do nothing - the dog seems no more dangerous than any other, and your oath as MRCVS is to animal welfare, not a badly thought out law that is not for for purpose. If you are planning on violating client confidentiality then check with the VDS first, and possibly with the RCVS.

Why the Anon post?