Scottish SPCA Calls for Judging "Deeds & Not Breeds"

​www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-58186176

The Scottish SPCA is calling for the Dangerous Dogs Act to address behaviour as opposed to targeting specific breeds after painfully having to euthanize healthy, friendly, and well-mannered dogs due to breed specific legislations. The SSPCA is hoping that on the 30th anniversary of the Dangerous Dogs Act that there will be changes to the law that protect healthy, well behaved animals from being euthanized simply because they are of a certain breed that was deemed "dangerous".

"We'd like to see a bigger focus on legislation that ensures responsible dog ownership rather than punishing individual dogs for the way they look if they haven't harmed anyone.
-- Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn

Euthanizing animals that the SSPCA has cared for in some cases for months, before determining that they are listed under the Dangerous Dog Act is heartbreaking for the crew who believe that these animals could easily be rehomed based on their behaviours / personalities. It's heartbreaking having to euthanize animals that pose no risk to the public and simply want to be loved in a new home.

I've spoken out about these discriminatory bans in the past as there are breed specific bans all over Canada and frankly, all over the world that are rooted in fear rather than facts. Any dog can be violent and aggressive if it is raised to be that way. It's unfortunately pitbulls that are exploited for violence because they are strong and have the potential to be violent if raised to be that way. Pitbulls have endured relentless attacks in the media that have promoted the idea that they are ALL violent, aggressive, and not safe which has really been the nail in the coffin for the breed. The media has done an excellent job sensationalizing the violence in order to fit the narrative that this breed is wholly unsafe and undeserving of a chance at love. This couldn't be further from the truth.

As I said, any breed can be aggressive if they are raised by humans who exploit them. They can be violent if they are raised by humans who abuse them, neglect them, or train them to be vicious. All animals are the product of their environment and a result of the humans who care for them. Behaviour is directly linked to their experiences and we have to start addressing the root cause for animal aggression instead of a blanket ban that sees innocent, well-mannered dogs euthanized simply because of their breed. It's completely ridiculous to label a breed as dangerous in order to fit a narrative that will allow them to be euthanized in order to "protect humans" when it is in fact humans who have made them aggressive / violent.

These breed specific bans are discriminate and do nothing to tackle irresponsible dog ownership. What we must be doing is addressing these situations on a case by case basis and only labelling an individual as violent after being assessed and deemed so by the proper authorities. We shouldn't be euthanizing loving animals without even giving them a chance to prove that they are not violent. It's irresponsible to euthanize animals simply because of their appearance and only fuels the unwarranted fear of pitbulls when in most cases, they couldn't be more loving.

We must end these discriminatory bans on breeds and start looking at behaviour. We must also start investigating the humans who are supposedly "caring" for these often abused and neglected animals. Killing healthy, loving animals is not responsible breed management, it's negligent and disgusting. It's time to lift the bans and start letting loving animals find homes instead of euthanizing them simply for existing.

HAPPY VEG