An Open Letter from Mr Keith Irwin (President of RNSWCC Ltd) to the Premier of NSW, Mr Bob Carr

Dear Premier

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

As long as I draw breath, I will fight you on the issue of Breed Specific Legislation. My organization, The Royal NSW Canine Council Ltd, and all of its members are bitterly opposed to this kind of legislation. I believe that what you are proposing to do will in fact see the introduction of Breed Specific Discrimination (BSD) in our State.

In my opinion, you are planning to take action against "specific breeds" of "Man's Best Friend" for the wrong reasons. It is the reckless and unthinking dog owners in our community that do not do the right thing by their dogs that should, and must, accept responsibility for their dogs’ actions. It is those owners that do not provide their dog with training and socialization (both with humans and other dogs) and also in most cases raise them without including the dog as an integral part of caring and loving environments which are the main cause of rogue dogs that bite and attack.

Clearly this is not the fault of the dogs involved let alone a whole breed of "Man's Best Friend". To introduce the legislation you plan to is down right un-Australian. We believe strongly in "Punishing the Deed not the Breed" and that your State Government must introduce educational programs that include promoting responsible dog ownership in all our schools as a matter of urgency. Everyone, including all the members of the RNSWCC, is appalled and horrified by the type of dog attacks recently reported in the press and our hearts and best wishes go out to those involved.

We do not recognize the Brazilian and Argentinean fighting dogs, Japanese Tosa, the Pit Bull or the American Pit Bull as pure breed dogs and their owners and breeders are certainly not members of this organization. The Federal Government has banned the importation of these dogs for twelve years.

We are the controlling body of pedigree dog breeding in this State and my members are committed to our organization’s Code of Ethics. We breed dogs for sound temperament and then breed-type. The Australian National Kennel Council, of which we are a member, recognizes over 185 separate breeds of dogs, many of which can trace their ancestry back many hundreds of years.

Dog fighting, bull baiting and all other blood sports involving dogs used to kill or maim were outlawed in England over 100 years ago and since that time; responsible breeders both in England and Australia have bred sound family dogs that make wonderful family pets.

Any attempt to apply the proposed legislation to any one of the breeds that we recognize will be strongly resisted. We will unite every dog owning citizen of this State in defense of "Man's Best Friend". Well may our advisors take heart in the percentage of voters (80%) who support the banning of the five breeds mentioned earlier. However, two in every three families in this State own a variety of "Man's Best Friend", particularly pure bred, and if you endanger that relationship, watch how the citizens of this State react.

This organization does not support Breed Specific Discrimination and most strongly recommends to you that you reconsider the proposed introduction of Breed Specific Legislation. Instead, we urge you to "Punish the Deed and not the Breed" and immediately commence the funding of educational activities. This organization and its 12,500 members, and its 365 affiliated clubs with over 60,000 members stand ready to assist you in your efforts to reduce dog attacks. All we ask is to be consulted and included in any discussion prior to any development and introduction of new legislation.

Yours sincerely

Keith Irwin JP ECC AIMM

President of RNSWCC Ltd