Pit bull federation working with government to hold owners accountable

The government will be looking at measures to ensure that owners of dogs involved in violent attacks are held accountable.

This move comes as Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Thoko Didiza, met Sizwe Kupelo Foundation to receive a petition signed by more than 139 000 people.

The foundation was asking for a breed ban on the controversial pit bull and pit bull-type dogs.

However, Pit Bull Federation of South Africa (PBFSA) opposed the ban, saying that it simply was not the best option because enforcing the ban would be “impossible”.

Minister Didiza raised the government’s concern over the loss of lives and damages associated with this type of dog.

She said that there is work that the government is currently doing to resolve the issue associated with this type of animal.

“Amongst the work that is currently underway is the comprehensive DNA analysis of pit bull and pit bull type dogs, to assist with correct identification of problem animals unique to South Africa.”

She said that the work would also investigate aggression and assist in identifying the pit bull and pit bull-type dogs that may be developed through indiscriminate cross-breeding.

DALRRD spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo said his department and Department of Justice and Constitutional Development were working together to amend the Animal Matters Amendment Act (AMAA) of 1993.

Animal Matters Amendment Act

This will ensure that citizens are protected from any harm and that the owners of such animals were held accountable for whatever damages are caused by power dogs and other animals.

The PBFSA and the Centre of Applied Pet Ethology (Coape) International joined hands with DALRRD to create a joint task team to identify short, medium and long-term practical approaches to the issue.

Jeanette Erasmus, president of the PBFSA, said the ban simply was not the best option.

“Breed bans are proven to not work and this would be especially true in South Africa,” she explained.

Erasmus said that the PBFSA was happy with the outcome and that it was working closely with the government to find the best solution to violent dog attacks.

Erasmus said that there are already laws governing such animals, but law enforcement is not enforcing the existing laws, so “policing and enforcing a ban will prove impossible”.

“The idea to ban the breed outright will not put an end to attacks by dogs. The problem lies with negligent owners who will move on to the next breed.”

She also said that the ban would not get rid of the breed, but push it into the black market and underground operations, while opening the door to corruption.

“To end maulings, owners whose dogs maul need to be held criminally accountable in terms of the AMAA.”

Erasmus worries that the type of narrative that focuses on the breed is used to avoid accountability by the real culprits, who are legally liable for their dog’s actions, with little being done to tackle the issue leading to drastic and unattainable ideas.

https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/434925/pit-bull-federation-opposed-to-breed-ban/

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