Breed specific legislation will not stop dog attacks, the type of people who use and abuse dogs to create aggressive attack dogs will simply move on to a different breed. They will not care about abiding by this new ban, they will either simply take the compensation and put their animal to sleep, abandon it or continue to breed from it. It will be loving, responsible pet owners and their family pets that will suffer. I believe this ban will do more harm than good.

Not only is the description of an "xl bully" provided on the government website wooly and vague, it can apply to so many different dogs, meaning it could ruin the lives of many dogs unnecessarily. The time line set out is deliberately short, it doesn't give owners or rescue centres enough time to comply, pay for the fee, train their pet with a muzzle or get them neutered, insured or rehomed if needed. The fact the government will pay towards euthanasia but not help with the registration fee is absolutely appalling. Owners have been given no help or guidance on how to interpet the "definition", nor how to contact someone like a DLO who can advise, leaving people confused and worried.

I would urge the government to reverse this knee jerk reaction to dog attacks and instead focus on the real problems that cause dog aggression issues. Serving tougher sentencing for people who run puppy farms for profit, abuse animals and intentionally train dogs to be aggressive. Education, understanding and better laws should be the course of action, not condemning innocent animals.

The laws around the sale of dogs and puppies, as well as ownership, greatly needs to be reviewed. Nobody should be able to sell puppies unless they are a registered breeder that is proven to be safe, licensed and follows strict laws that are monitored by a agency or body. As a pet owner, I'd be happy to have a license to own a pet if it means safer, loving homes for animals and less chance of dogs becoming used, abandoned, over-bred or dangerous. 

All pet owners should have them microchipped and registered at a vets with mandatory check ups for health. People need to be held accountable for how they treat animals and the right to own them be taken away if they neglect or harm a pet. Stricter sentencing around animal neglect and abuse should be in action.

Any dog owner or pet lover knows that it isn't the breed that causes these issues, any breed can become aggressive under certain circumstances and to blame the breed is wrong. It is people that need punishing, not dogs.

Please petition for the government to better the laws surrounding animal rights, breeding, sale and ownership instead of banning breeds.