Arkiv
Fakta om Rasförbud i Danmark
F a c t s
The Ministry of Justice’s Dog Committee oppose banning
The Minister of Justice formed the Dog Committee with the purpose of solving
problems with dangerous dogs. However late 2009 he instructed them that one
of their solutions had to be banning selected breeds.
The committee’s interim report from 2010 states that a majority of the committee
opposed breed bans (the minority consisted of public servants).
Breeds were selected without reliable statistic and empirical knowledge
The Dog Committee states in their interim report that no reliable statistical and
empirical data exists for use in the selection of breeds to be included in a possible
breed ban.
Furthermore it should be noted in this context that the Dog Committee’s basis is
formed on:
_ Statistics from Danish emergency rooms, which show that other breeds appear
more often on the list of dogs, which cause injuries to humans.
_ A non-scientific list, which formed the basis for defining potentially dangerous
dogs, drafted by a so-called expert with no scientific background. The
author states on the list that she hasn’t experience with all of the breeds and
therefore can’t rule out that some of the breeds are wrongly placed.
All scientific experts oppose banning of breeds
All experts, including The Danish Veterinary Association and the Dog committee,
oppose banning of breeds. A majority of the reactions from the public hearing
oppose banning of breeds as well.
Experience show breed specific legislation doesn’t work
Other countries remove breed bans, because it is ineffective.
_ The Netherlands removed their breed ban after 15 years in 2008.
_ Northern Germany removed breed list in 2009 after 9 years of restrictions.
_ Scotland remove breed specific legislation in 2010.
_ England and Wales are in the process of removing breed specific legislation.
No increase in dog attacks on humans
Public statistics show that during the 90’s the number of dog bites on humans in
Denmark was reduced by half and the numbers of incidents has remained stable
since 1998.
Aggression is NOT breed related
It’s scientifically proven that aggression is not breed related, e.g. by the Veterinarian
University in Hannover. A “fighting gene” does not exist!
F a c t s
FCI breeds not involved in attacks
The Danish Terrier Club’s committee the Bull Image Group has followed up on
every dog attack appearing in the media since January 2009. None of these attacks
were committed by purebred American Staffordshire Terriers or by any
other banned FCI breed. When the journalists referred to the attack dogs as
“amstaffs”, it was really crossbred dogs resembling “amstaffs”.
This means that the law effectively bans a number of purebred breeds from the
established dog society, which aren’t responsible for attacks, where as the law
doesn’t have impact on the real perpetrators sold by irresponsible people outside
the established dog world, where a large number of “copy dogs” with unknown
origin are produced.
The Danish Dog Act is equivalent to banning Rolex watches because the cheap
copies watches break.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a rare breed
Less than 10 % of the dogs that are referred to as ”amstaffs” are American Staffordshire
Terriers. Actually more than 90 % of the dogs registered in the Danish
Dog Register are “copy dogs”, like pitbull crosses or other crosses being sold as
“amstaffs” to achieve a higher sales price. Additional there’s a large number of
dogs that aren’t registered at all – dogs that are kept illegally.
A purebred American Staffordshire Terrier is recognized by its FCI approved
pedigree. Only 82 were registered in 2009, so it’s a small population of dogs –
and these can only be bred if they acquire an approved temperament test.
The law primarily affects responsible dog owners
Statistics presented by The Danish Kennel Club to the Parliament’s Law Committee
show that purebred FCI dogs only represent 3 % of the dogs wrongfully
referred to as ”fighting dogs”. As the political negotiations confirm that no extra
resources will be targeted to support the law, the purebred dogs are immediately
restricted by the law where as the other 97 % of dogs produced by irresponsible
people outside the ”doggie” establishment go free.
The term ‘fighting dog’ used for dogs that bite
There is no official Danish definition of a ‘fighting dog’. The term is used by journalists
and the public regardless of the dog’s origin and use. The term ‘fighting
dog’ now publicly mean a dog that bites.
Further information and documentation
Visit: http://www.bull-image-gruppen.dk/
for further information and documentation or
write us at: Politik@bull-image-gruppen.dk
Danish Dog Act
Denmark bans 13 breeds
The Danish Parliament passes a new Dog Act banning 13 breeds. The Act enters
into force July 2010 and includes banning of the following breeds:
FCI breeds
_ American Staffordshire Terrier
_ Central Asian Ovtcharka
_ Dogo Argentino
_ Fila Brasileiro
_ Caucasian Ovtcharka
_ Sarplaninac
_ South Russian Ovtcharka
_ Tornjak
_ Tosa (banned in 1991)
Other breeds
_ American Bulldog
_ Boerboel
_ Kangal
_ Pit bull terrier (banned in 1991)
Dogs of these breeds and crosses involving these breeds:
_ Are not allowed to be bred.
_ Are not allowed to be purchased, sold, imported, exported or transferred.
_ Must be kept on a short (max. 2 m) lead when outside owner’s property.
_ Must wear a muzzle when outside owner’s property.
_ Furthermore when requested by the police dog owners must prove that their
dog isn’t bred from any of the banned breeds (the onus is on the owners).
In addition to the Dog Act the Ministry of Justice establishes an observation list
for potentially dangerous breeds. It still hasn’t been made public:
_ How this list is administered.
_ What breeds are included.
_ Which criteria will define them as potentially dangerous.
The Dog Act will be evaluated after 3 years.
Note that the law includes more regulations and is of course much more detailed.
As the final law draft was pushed though very quickly a lot of uncertainties
remain concerning interpretation of the law and especially about the actual
rules and regulations for the affected dogs.
Responsible owners & breeders will fight this!
The Danish Terrier Club and its committee, the Bull Image Group, deeply regret
this unprecedented action by the Danish Parliament. We will constantly work for
an effective solution of the problem concerning dangerous dogs in Denmark and
fight this ineffective and unsubstantiated breed specific legislation.
– And we still have options to pursue
Fakta om rasförbud i Danmark : http://www.bull-image-gruppen.dk/big-folder-uk.pdf