MARGARET METCALFE: Putting bite on dog owners
Many breeds such as Staffordshire bull terriers and rottweilers will be on the verge of extinction if we allow our elected politicians to continue passing legislation without fair community consultation with breed clubs and pet owners. First was the highly-emotive banning of tail-docking, then mandatory micro-chipping of all pets and now we have seen the introduction into State law of banning the exhibition of docked breeds and the proposal for de-sexing of all dogs and cats. As the dog fraternity knows, next will be the banning of breeds.
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) comes in many forms from extra insurance and licenses, to outright bans of particular breeds. It usually comes about after a dog attack and it generally targets the dog breed the attacking dog most resembles. Politicians attempt to curb dog bites by implementing policies focused specifically on these breeds. BSL will be expensive to implement and enforce. Determining a dog's breed or mix is extremely difficult, often resulting in mistaken identities.
Many people mistakenly believe that owners of these perceived so-called dangerous breeds do not care about public safety. On the contrary, as owners, we are acutely aware of the need to educate the public and train our pets. As owners, we also realise the problem of dog bites and dog attacks does not lie within a single breed.
The problem, ultimately, lies with the individual owner and that is where the focus of dangerous dog laws should be. Education on responsible pet ownership is clearly the answer. Blame the owner, not the dog.
Margaret Metcalfe lives in Corio. As concerned rottweiler owners, she and her friends have organised rottweiler PR days at the Geelong waterfront promoting responsible pet ownership and promoting the good character of well-socialised canines
MEAN OR MALIGNED A DOGGIE DILEMMA
RSPCA PAWS WALK GEELONG MAY 2008
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/05/17/14059_news.html
INDY the rottweiler and her owner were looking forward to promoting the "misunderstood" breed at tomorrow's RSPCA Million Paws Walk in Geelong.
But that won't be happening because the Rottweiler Education and Companion Training team says it has been blocked from the day.
Indi's owner and REACT founder, Margaret Metcalfe, wanted to distribute brochures at the annual fundraising and awareness day at Eastern Gardens, but says the RSPCA was going to slug her with a site fee.
"We felt we could enhance their day by offering an educational tool for the event and the Geelong community," she said.
"The $80 site fee would have to come out of my own pocket, but it's not that easy; I'm a struggling family person, like everyone else."
A statewide German shepherd club, with a paid up membership base, will provide equipment and trained dog demonstrations to dodge the site fee.
Ms Metcalfe said her group had a rottweiler who could pull a wagon for children's rides, but did not want to put the dog through the torment.
"That's probably a bit hard on one dog to be carting kids all day; that's a little bit cruel," she said.
"Our group is totally un-funded, money comes out of our own pockets.
"With the rottweiler being a very popular but misunderstood breed, it's a real shame the RSPCA has put dollars before educational opportunities."
Volunteer and walk organiser Kerry Wench said the RSPCA needed a monetary return on its investment, and hoped to raise about $5000 tomorrow.
"We need to be cautious about who we have involved and what value they're adding," she said.
"We need the groups to be formally involved ... rather than coming along and taking advantage of all of our resources and hard work."
Ms Wench said she had a phone conversation with Ms Metcalfe but was not convinced REACT would add sufficient value.
She said she left a message for Ms Metcalfe to find out more about the group, but her call was not returned.
DOGS ON THE MARCH
Copyright © 2008 R.E.A.C.T.