Post by Wolfie on Sept 5, 2008 20:37:37 GMT -5
AN illegal pit bull terrier trade is flourishing in Victoria, with brazen breeders posting advertisements for banned pups on the internet.
Breeding American pit bulls is banned in Victoria, but a Herald Sun investigation has uncovered a dozen dogs put up for sale on the internet by Melbourne owners.
The State Government says it is not its job to catch rogue breeders, while councils say they can only act if they get a complaint.
Among the breeders are a Pascoe Vale family who even posed pit bulls lying on their sleeping son's bed to prove they were a "great family dog".
Victorians who buy the pit bull pups risk a fine of $1100, while the dogs could be seized and put down.
Restricted breeds, including pit bull terriers, must be desexed and registered with local councils.
There are 322 restricted breeds in Victoria, but councils have been banned from accepting new registrations of those breeds since 2005.
Moreland Council is investigating Pascoe Vale breeder Sarah Hall, who advertised two 11-week-old pit bulls online.
She said she did not know that breeding pit bulls was illegal.
Municipal Association of Victoria president thingy Gross said councils had enough power to seize illegal breeds but relied on tip-offs.
Lost Dogs' Home managing director Graeme Smith called on the Government to overhaul the law on restricted breeds.
"Council officers are deciding dogs are American pit bull terriers, but owners are overturning this in the courts by saying their dogs are Rhodesian ridgeback crosses or boxer crosses," Mr Smith said.
"But any dog that looks like a pit bull should be restricted."
Endangered Dog Breeds Association spokesman Anthony Melman said laws should focus on individual dogs for dangerous behaviour.
"American pit bull terriers are called the nanny breed because they are fantastic with children, and I'd trust my three young children more with a pitbull than a fluffy white dog, but we've monsterised them by painting them as dangerous."
RSPCA senior investigator Allie Jalbert slammed illegal breeders.
"What person would breed these dogs knowing it's highly likely that they'll be seized, sit in a shelter for 12 months while it goes through the courts and then have them euthanased," she said.
Source
Breeding American pit bulls is banned in Victoria, but a Herald Sun investigation has uncovered a dozen dogs put up for sale on the internet by Melbourne owners.
The State Government says it is not its job to catch rogue breeders, while councils say they can only act if they get a complaint.
Among the breeders are a Pascoe Vale family who even posed pit bulls lying on their sleeping son's bed to prove they were a "great family dog".
Victorians who buy the pit bull pups risk a fine of $1100, while the dogs could be seized and put down.
Restricted breeds, including pit bull terriers, must be desexed and registered with local councils.
There are 322 restricted breeds in Victoria, but councils have been banned from accepting new registrations of those breeds since 2005.
Moreland Council is investigating Pascoe Vale breeder Sarah Hall, who advertised two 11-week-old pit bulls online.
She said she did not know that breeding pit bulls was illegal.
Municipal Association of Victoria president thingy Gross said councils had enough power to seize illegal breeds but relied on tip-offs.
Lost Dogs' Home managing director Graeme Smith called on the Government to overhaul the law on restricted breeds.
"Council officers are deciding dogs are American pit bull terriers, but owners are overturning this in the courts by saying their dogs are Rhodesian ridgeback crosses or boxer crosses," Mr Smith said.
"But any dog that looks like a pit bull should be restricted."
Endangered Dog Breeds Association spokesman Anthony Melman said laws should focus on individual dogs for dangerous behaviour.
"American pit bull terriers are called the nanny breed because they are fantastic with children, and I'd trust my three young children more with a pitbull than a fluffy white dog, but we've monsterised them by painting them as dangerous."
RSPCA senior investigator Allie Jalbert slammed illegal breeders.
"What person would breed these dogs knowing it's highly likely that they'll be seized, sit in a shelter for 12 months while it goes through the courts and then have them euthanased," she said.
Source
