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franklanguageJuly 11, 2007
Dublin, Ireland Bans 11 Dog Breeds - Dump The Dogs Or They Will Be Destroyed
Dog lovers around the world are outraged at the Dublin City Council in Ireland for enacting one of the most Draconian breed bans in recent memory.
The City of Dublin has banned eleven different dog breeds from Dublin City Council properties - meaning public housing - according to a report in Ireland.com
The Dublin Breed Ban , which is effective immediately having been backdated to July 1st, includes:
English Bull Terriers
Staffordshire Bull Terriers
American Pit Bull Terriers
German Shepherds (Alsatian)
Rottweilers
Dobermans
Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Japanese Akitas
Bull Mastiffs
Bandogs
Japanese Tosas
The sponsor of the Dublin breed ban thinks it doesn't go far enough, that's why he's planning to take this breed ban nationwide to include all of Ireland.
Are all you German Shepherd people awake yet? How about you
Rhodesian Ridgeback lovers? Wake up dog lovers! Dublin's City Council also banned are cross-breeds of these dogs or
crosses of these dogs with any other breed.
The breed ban is in full effect now, according to Nick Mays, Chief Reporter for the UK's preminent newspaper covering dogs, OUR DOGS
He recalls that enactment of breed bans in Germany and in the Province of Ontario, Canada were not implemented with the same speed and zeal as the ban in Dublin.
Nick reports that the Dublin City Council wants to extend the breed ban to cover all public places including parks, which would have the net impact of banning dogs that are owned by private property owners.
Meaning! Anyone owning a so-called "dangerous dog" could not walk it in a public park, even if they lived in private housing.
Dublin To Dog Owners: Dump Them Or Destroy Them
Tenants in Dublin public housing have a limited time to try and find homes for their pets - however the Dublin City Council says if "alternative suitable accommodation" cannot be found for the dogs - then the dogs will be destroyed.
The council has taken the step to remove all "dangerous breeds" due to the increasing numbers of complaints from tenants and because of the legal implications associated with an attack taking place on one of its properties.
Executive manager of the council's housing department Michael O'Neill said tenants would be asked to remove any banned dogs but if they failed to comply the council would take them away.
"Our information on these dogs is that that they can be very
aggressive and while they might be family pets, that has to come secondary and would be no defence to us if a child or other vulnerable person was attacked on our property."
Making Criminals Out Of Dog Owners
A reader on another chat board stated that Dublin's public housing or "estates" are well known for rampant problems with anti-social behavior, vandalism and drug dealing.
But here is the question folks - why are we continuing to punish dogs for the sins of their owners ??? And why should everyone pay for the crimes that someone else commits?
It is time to for law enforcement officials in Ireland and elswhere to step up to the plate and do your freaking jobs.
It is time for city governments and law enforcement agencies to stop using innocents dogs as pawns, and it is time to stop criminalizing innocent people based on the breed on dog they own.
The Irish Dog Holocaust
Peter Banks, Webmaster at www.IrishDogs.ie has registered his outrage and disgust for this ban with the Dublin City Council. He writes:
The Council has been very irresponsible and rash in taking this decision with very little thought for the consequences. The focus should be on the behaviour of the owners and not the dogs and this issue can be addressed with responsible ownership not destruction.
Furthermore, Peter has outlined the desctructive consequences of this ill-conceived plan:
Distraught families and children who have to hand over beloved family pets either for re-homing or destruction with no responsible assessment of the individual dog and its owners.
Irresponsible owners, particularly those who use their dogs for fighting and who breed dogs for the same purpose will most certainly not hand their dogs over and will instead put them into hiding and carry on with their cruel practices even further from the public eye. Amnesties will be offered by councils to those owners to hand their dogs over and this will fail also. Many dogs will now be abandoned or thrown on to the streets for animal welfare organisations to pick up and take responsibility for. These organisations are generally under resourced anyway and this will result in the needless cull of many dogs.
The whole area of fighting dogs is a very lucrative one and it will now be driven further underground and people will make even more money out of this cruelty to animals.
An Irish dog owner writes on Peter's chat board:
I will tell you a story, I had a call from a 92 year old woman yesterday, living in a council house. She called me crying. She is the owner of a German Shepard named Helper. Helper is aged 8. Helper is this woman's hands, quite literally. The woman is arthritis ridden. Her hands are stuck in the fist position.
This dog is trained to do things like carry the paper home from the shop. Wake the woman in the morning by bringing her post to her. Even so far as switching on the kettle for her. And you want this woman to give up her dog, just because she is listed as a dangerous breed???
It will kill this woman if someone looks for her dog, and I mean literally kill her.
Be warned now that if this dog is taken away or this woman is evicted, I will publish this story in every Irish Newspaper that exists.
The dog owner went on to say:
Its co-incidental that this decision was taken after the General Election, well be assured that I and many others will never again vote Labour (or any other party we find supporting this). You have lost a lot of support for your party.
Tell Dublin's Leadership What You Think
Peter is urging dog owners in Ireland and around the world to contact the Dublin City Council to voice their opinions. OK dog owners, sharpen your pencils - and type your emails.
Councillor Kevin Humphreys
Labour councillor Kevin Humphreys said he understands how people can feel discriminated against--but gee--that's too bad.
Gleefully, Mr. Humphreys said he hopes that this was just the first step to banning these breeds nationally. I don't know about you, but I think I'd have to vote Mr. Humpreys right out of office and wipe that smirky look off his face.
In any case--here's his contact information:
cllr_kevin.humphreys@dublincity.ie
+353 087 298 91 03 (M)
+353 01 667 80 97
+353 01 668 68 54 (H)
John Gormley - Minister of the Environment
The man with the ultimate responsibility to make this decision. Address: Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Custom House, Dublin 1.
Tel: +353 01 888 2403 Fax: +353 01 878 8640
Email: minister@environ.ie or johngormley@eircom.net
Stand Up For The Innocent Dogs In Ireland
Stand Up For Innocent Dogs On August 19th
Join The Vigil
To all those in Ireland and around the world who stand up for innocent dogs and innocent dog owners--thank you. This August you can help send a very powerful message in a very peaceful way.
I urge dogs owners in Ireland, the UK and throughout Europe to join
the:
3rd Annual My Dog Votes Worldwide Candlelight Vigil Against Breed
Bans on Sunday, August 19th at 8 PM
By taking part in this vigil which literally spans the globe, you can
can tell the world to stop killing innocent dogs.
Join us to Light A Candle, Save A Life
Sign up today. Email your name & location to: info@mydogvotes.com
Dublin, Ireland Bans 11 Dog Breeds - Dump The Dogs Or They Will Be Destroyed
Dog lovers around the world are outraged at the Dublin City Council in Ireland for enacting one of the most Draconian breed bans in recent memory.
The City of Dublin has banned eleven different dog breeds from Dublin City Council properties - meaning public housing - according to a report in Ireland.com
The Dublin Breed Ban , which is effective immediately having been backdated to July 1st, includes:
English Bull Terriers
Staffordshire Bull Terriers
American Pit Bull Terriers
German Shepherds (Alsatian)
Rottweilers
Dobermans
Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Japanese Akitas
Bull Mastiffs
Bandogs
Japanese Tosas
The sponsor of the Dublin breed ban thinks it doesn't go far enough, that's why he's planning to take this breed ban nationwide to include all of Ireland.
Are all you German Shepherd people awake yet? How about you
Rhodesian Ridgeback lovers? Wake up dog lovers! Dublin's City Council also banned are cross-breeds of these dogs or
crosses of these dogs with any other breed.
The breed ban is in full effect now, according to Nick Mays, Chief Reporter for the UK's preminent newspaper covering dogs, OUR DOGS
He recalls that enactment of breed bans in Germany and in the Province of Ontario, Canada were not implemented with the same speed and zeal as the ban in Dublin.
Nick reports that the Dublin City Council wants to extend the breed ban to cover all public places including parks, which would have the net impact of banning dogs that are owned by private property owners.
Meaning! Anyone owning a so-called "dangerous dog" could not walk it in a public park, even if they lived in private housing.
Dublin To Dog Owners: Dump Them Or Destroy Them
Tenants in Dublin public housing have a limited time to try and find homes for their pets - however the Dublin City Council says if "alternative suitable accommodation" cannot be found for the dogs - then the dogs will be destroyed.
The council has taken the step to remove all "dangerous breeds" due to the increasing numbers of complaints from tenants and because of the legal implications associated with an attack taking place on one of its properties.
Executive manager of the council's housing department Michael O'Neill said tenants would be asked to remove any banned dogs but if they failed to comply the council would take them away.
"Our information on these dogs is that that they can be very
aggressive and while they might be family pets, that has to come secondary and would be no defence to us if a child or other vulnerable person was attacked on our property."
Making Criminals Out Of Dog Owners
A reader on another chat board stated that Dublin's public housing or "estates" are well known for rampant problems with anti-social behavior, vandalism and drug dealing.
But here is the question folks - why are we continuing to punish dogs for the sins of their owners ??? And why should everyone pay for the crimes that someone else commits?
It is time to for law enforcement officials in Ireland and elswhere to step up to the plate and do your freaking jobs.
It is time for city governments and law enforcement agencies to stop using innocents dogs as pawns, and it is time to stop criminalizing innocent people based on the breed on dog they own.
The Irish Dog Holocaust
Peter Banks, Webmaster at www.IrishDogs.ie has registered his outrage and disgust for this ban with the Dublin City Council. He writes:
The Council has been very irresponsible and rash in taking this decision with very little thought for the consequences. The focus should be on the behaviour of the owners and not the dogs and this issue can be addressed with responsible ownership not destruction.
Furthermore, Peter has outlined the desctructive consequences of this ill-conceived plan:
Distraught families and children who have to hand over beloved family pets either for re-homing or destruction with no responsible assessment of the individual dog and its owners.
Irresponsible owners, particularly those who use their dogs for fighting and who breed dogs for the same purpose will most certainly not hand their dogs over and will instead put them into hiding and carry on with their cruel practices even further from the public eye. Amnesties will be offered by councils to those owners to hand their dogs over and this will fail also. Many dogs will now be abandoned or thrown on to the streets for animal welfare organisations to pick up and take responsibility for. These organisations are generally under resourced anyway and this will result in the needless cull of many dogs.
The whole area of fighting dogs is a very lucrative one and it will now be driven further underground and people will make even more money out of this cruelty to animals.
An Irish dog owner writes on Peter's chat board:
I will tell you a story, I had a call from a 92 year old woman yesterday, living in a council house. She called me crying. She is the owner of a German Shepard named Helper. Helper is aged 8. Helper is this woman's hands, quite literally. The woman is arthritis ridden. Her hands are stuck in the fist position.
This dog is trained to do things like carry the paper home from the shop. Wake the woman in the morning by bringing her post to her. Even so far as switching on the kettle for her. And you want this woman to give up her dog, just because she is listed as a dangerous breed???
It will kill this woman if someone looks for her dog, and I mean literally kill her.
Be warned now that if this dog is taken away or this woman is evicted, I will publish this story in every Irish Newspaper that exists.
The dog owner went on to say:
Its co-incidental that this decision was taken after the General Election, well be assured that I and many others will never again vote Labour (or any other party we find supporting this). You have lost a lot of support for your party.
Tell Dublin's Leadership What You Think
Peter is urging dog owners in Ireland and around the world to contact the Dublin City Council to voice their opinions. OK dog owners, sharpen your pencils - and type your emails.
Councillor Kevin Humphreys
Labour councillor Kevin Humphreys said he understands how people can feel discriminated against--but gee--that's too bad.
Gleefully, Mr. Humphreys said he hopes that this was just the first step to banning these breeds nationally. I don't know about you, but I think I'd have to vote Mr. Humpreys right out of office and wipe that smirky look off his face.
In any case--here's his contact information:
cllr_kevin.humphreys@dublincity.ie
+353 087 298 91 03 (M)
+353 01 667 80 97
+353 01 668 68 54 (H)
John Gormley - Minister of the Environment
The man with the ultimate responsibility to make this decision. Address: Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Custom House, Dublin 1.
Tel: +353 01 888 2403 Fax: +353 01 878 8640
Email: minister@environ.ie or johngormley@eircom.net
Stand Up For The Innocent Dogs In Ireland
Stand Up For Innocent Dogs On August 19th
Join The Vigil
To all those in Ireland and around the world who stand up for innocent dogs and innocent dog owners--thank you. This August you can help send a very powerful message in a very peaceful way.
I urge dogs owners in Ireland, the UK and throughout Europe to join
the:
3rd Annual My Dog Votes Worldwide Candlelight Vigil Against Breed
Bans on Sunday, August 19th at 8 PM
By taking part in this vigil which literally spans the globe, you can
can tell the world to stop killing innocent dogs.
Join us to Light A Candle, Save A Life
Sign up today. Email your name & location to: info@mydogvotes.com
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Here's the e-mail I sent to Mr Humphreys
Date: 2007-07-16 08:15 pm (UTC)I am a dog-owner in New York City, and I'm appalled that you've gotten support for and managed to put this breed ban in Dublin into effect--retroactively, even. That's frightening. I trust that you've been told how wrong-headed this ongoing breed ban is. I sincerely hope you're not able to spread the range of this ban outside of the city limits, since to restrict the ownership of certain "dangerous" breeds of dogs is missing the whole point; any dog can be "dangerous" and most dogs are not--regardless of what breed they are. The key is in the proper training and handling of the dog.
Historically, breed bans have been tried and failed. Not only that, but toy breeds, like poodles and chihuahuas, are said to be more high-strung and inflict more bites to people than mastiffs and rottweilers; I don't see them anywhere on your list. For instance, there can be confusion as to what characterizes a pit bull, as is evidenced by this game. That confusion alone is going to make the ban problematic and difficult to enact. The ban mentions that any dog who is a mix that includes a banned breed will be subject to the restrictions of the ban. I hope you're prepared for the rash of coming lawsuits against you and your officials; I foresee this ban being more trouble than it's worth--especially when it would be so much more effective to simply teach people to be good and fair dog-owners.
I understand most of the problems you're seeking to stem lie with the tenants, not the dogs, in public housing. That's more than unfortunate; I'm sure you're aware if there are people who use their dogs for illegal activities like dogfighting, they have experience at hiding it from the law. You are punishing innocent dogs, plus law-abiding citizens, in a clean-sweep effort to rid the housing projects of a few "bad seeds." I wish I could vote in Ireland just to vote you out of office.
Many of the breeds on your list are commonly used as service dogs to the disabled; I hope you will be able to exempt disabled people who truly need the assistance of their dogs, from having to get rid of or put down their dear friends and helpers. As a disabled person myself, I can honestly say that I will do anything to keep my service animal safe--and that includes keeping him away from those who don't understand his importance to me. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, he has as much right to accompany me into the bank or post office, or even the grocery store, as another human.
Have a good day.