Staffordshire bull terriers are 'perfectly harmless', says minister
Staffordshire bull terriers have been unfairly “stigmatised” as dangerous dogs and make “perfectly harmless” family pets, a government minister has said.
A Staffordshire bull terrier Photo: ALAMY
The dogs, affectionately known as “Staffies”, are not on the government’s
banned list and most of the breed posed no threat to humans, according to
Jim Paice, the agriculture minister.
Mr Paice told MPs that he had grown up with bull terriers as a child and
backed a campaign to “reclaim the breed’s good name”.
However, he said ministers were considering reforms to the law, expected to be
announced early next year, in order to make sure dog owners face up to their
responsibilities to control potentially dangerous animals.
Dog charities have disclosed that they have seen an increase in the number of
animals they have been forced to destroy in recent years.
About 8,000 dogs, including 3,600 Staffordshire bull terriers, were taken to
Battersea Dogs And Cats Home in south London, according to recent figures.
More than one third of the dogs taken to the home were put down, most because
they were judged too great a risk to be offered for re – homing because of
their temperament or behaviour.
The number of Staffordshire bull terriers taken in by Battersea had increased ninefold since 1996.
Jane Ellison, Conservative MP for Battersea, told the Commons she feared that Staffordshire bull terriers had developed a bad reputation following a series of attacks.
Clutching a picture of a dog, Ms Ellison told MPs that the animals were among the most difficult to re-home.
“One of the consequences of the dangerous dogs debate has been the stigmatisation of an entire breed, the Staffordshire bull terrier,” she said.
The MP urged the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to back a campaign to rid the breed of its bad reputation.
The minister, Mr Paice, said he was “happy to endorse that campaign, having been brought up as a child with bull terriers”.
“I entirely accept the contention (that) the majority of that breed are perfectly harmless,” he said.
The Parliamentary praise for “Staffies” came as MPs debated calls from animal welfare charities and victims of dog attacks for reforms to the
Dangerous Dogs Act, after a series of high-profile attacks, including the deaths of several children.
The minister said negotiations were “at a very advanced stage” on reforming the law, and suggested that details would be announced early in the new year.
One key area for reform is likely to be the current rules making it impossible to prosecute dog owners if an attack takes place on private property, including in their own homes, on private roads, and privately run housing estates and parks.
Postal workers are particularly at risk and ministers are considering changes to make such legal action possible.
Last week, the Defra minister Lord Taylor of Holbeach met the Communication Workers Union, British Veterinary Association, animal welfare charities, police chiefs, and Home Office representatives to discuss the reforms.
A Defra spokesman said: “We are working hard to reduce the problems of irresponsible dog ownership which will make our homes, streets and public spaces safer.
“There’s no easy solution. We will be announcing new measures early in the new year that will better protect the public, allow the police and councils to better enforce the law and ensure dog owners take responsibility for their animals.”
The number of Staffordshire bull terriers taken in by Battersea had increased ninefold since 1996.
Jane Ellison, Conservative MP for Battersea, told the Commons she feared that Staffordshire bull terriers had developed a bad reputation following a series of attacks.
Clutching a picture of a dog, Ms Ellison told MPs that the animals were among the most difficult to re-home.
“One of the consequences of the dangerous dogs debate has been the stigmatisation of an entire breed, the Staffordshire bull terrier,” she said.
The MP urged the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to back a campaign to rid the breed of its bad reputation.
The minister, Mr Paice, said he was “happy to endorse that campaign, having been brought up as a child with bull terriers”.
“I entirely accept the contention (that) the majority of that breed are perfectly harmless,” he said.
The Parliamentary praise for “Staffies” came as MPs debated calls from animal welfare charities and victims of dog attacks for reforms to the
Dangerous Dogs Act, after a series of high-profile attacks, including the deaths of several children.
The minister said negotiations were “at a very advanced stage” on reforming the law, and suggested that details would be announced early in the new year.
One key area for reform is likely to be the current rules making it impossible to prosecute dog owners if an attack takes place on private property, including in their own homes, on private roads, and privately run housing estates and parks.
Postal workers are particularly at risk and ministers are considering changes to make such legal action possible.
Last week, the Defra minister Lord Taylor of Holbeach met the Communication Workers Union, British Veterinary Association, animal welfare charities, police chiefs, and Home Office representatives to discuss the reforms.
A Defra spokesman said: “We are working hard to reduce the problems of irresponsible dog ownership which will make our homes, streets and public spaces safer.
“There’s no easy solution. We will be announcing new measures early in the new year that will better protect the public, allow the police and councils to better enforce the law and ensure dog owners take responsibility for their animals.”
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