I don't usually do this, I know politics isn't something that is talked about often on tumblr and for good reason, this is an escape. If I get unfollows for this I will understand entirely but this is a platform with the possibility of reaching a ton of people, especially BRITS. if you are British or a current British resident, it would mean the world for me if you signed this petition.
The UK has a law known as Breed Specific Legislation and today marks the 30th anniversary of a brutal law that has taken too many lives.
30 years ago today the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 came into being. The very first dog to die under Breed Specific Legislation was Rizla, since then 100's of innocent dogs are killed every year.
82% of dogs seized in the UK have never shown aggression.
Around £3 million a year is spent from the police budget on kenneling seized dogs.
Dog bites have increased by over 76% in recent years.
The legislated breeds don’t bite more often or more severely than other dogs.
Amend the breed specific legislation to create a clause where by dogs that have been expertly assessed and found to be no more risk to the p
The UK Kennel Club doesn’t recognise pit bulls as a breed – therefore no breed standard which could be used to identify these dogs exists. Dogs are identified as pit bull types when they meet a substantial number of 15 physical features of a pit bull description copied from a 1977 issue of the American periodical Pit Bull Gazette.
Neil Parish, Chair of the EFRA Committee, said: “Existing laws and the breed ban have not stemmed the rising tide of injuries and deaths from dog attacks. This is unacceptable. Our evidence was clear that the law is riddled with inconsistencies, harms animal welfare unnecessarily, and offers false reassurances to policymakers and the general public.
And yet our government still insists that this law works!
#ENDBSLnow
BSL has seen the slaughter of litters of puppies only weeks old. Several may be decided to be of type and others of the same litter are not and allowed to live. Whether a breed is deemed type depends on the independant dog warden / police officer and one deciding they are not, will not stop another seizing your dog.
Dogs are ripped away from their families for YEARS and as you can imagine, are often traumatised if they ever return after a lengthly and expensive court battle. If they don't succeed in getting exemption in court they're killed and the families aren't even allowed to be there.
If they do get exemption they are never allowed off the lead, they have to wear a muzzle at all times unless in their own confined back garden. Exempt dogs can't be rehomed, if the current owner dies or something happens, they can't be passed on and will likely be euthanized. Alot of landlords won't allow dogs of type to live in their properties so this law also makes a lot of people homeless suddenly having to find a new place to live. People have moved across the country away from everyone they know and love because of this.
Despite multiple appeals the government still won't ease up and as such, we're fighting for rescues to be allowed to be rehomed, for exempt dogs, said to be no threat to the public, not to be forced to wear a muzzle.
They're little steps in comparison to banning it but little steps needed to make the change.