AVA Calls for Urgent Injection of Funds to Implement Animal Control Legislation

AVA - Media Release, Tuesday 3rd May 2005

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is today urging State and Local Governments Australia-wide to find adequate resources in order to effectively implement legislation for control of dangerous dogs.

In response to a spate of recent dog attacks, Dr Norm Blackman, National President of the AVA says State Governments already have a good legislative framework for managing the problem of dangerous dogs but Local Governments are unable to properly implement it.

"In NSW where the latest incidents have occurred, the legislation is excellent but the capacity of Local Governments to manage it is the main problem," says Dr Blackman. "While there are occasional incidents of dog attacks involving a dog that is normally well behaved and which has a responsible owner, the vast majority of serious dog attacks involve irresponsible behavior on the part of the owner resulting in a situation where a potentially dangerous dog actually attacks someone."

"We believe that with better enforcement and owner education most of these attacks will be prevented," says Dr Blackman. Dr Blackman also says that following dog attacks media interest invariably focuses on individual dog breeds such as the Pit Bull rather than the deed itself and the result is pressure on Government to ban certain dog breeds. Australia banned the importation of 4 breeds including the American Pit Bull Terrier over 12 years ago and this has had no apparent effect on decreasing the number of dog attacks.

"Such bans occurred in several countries, including the UK, about 15 or so years ago and the incidence and severity of dog attacks in those countries has not changed," says Dr Blackman.

"This shows that other breeds and crossbreeds of dogs have obviously taken their place and banning breeds considered dangerous does not work." "It merely highlights the fact that irresponsible ownership of any large dog is much more likely to be the causative factor for most serious dog attacks."

"Sadly Governments that are banning breeds are merely taking the politically easy option of wanting to be seen by the public to be doing something but failing to provide a solution that addresses the underlying problem," says Dr Blackman.

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