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Dr Jacqui Ley BVSc (Hons) FANZCVs(Veterinary Behaviour)PhD Dip
ECAWBM
www.drjacquiley.com.au
Veterinary Behaviourists
View of DDL & BSL
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What does a Veterinary Behaviourist do
within Dangerous Dog and Breed Specific
Legislation
Problems with Dangerous Dog legislation
Problems with Breed Specific legislation
AVA Position
My Perfect World
Overview
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Engaged by owners to undertake
temperament assessment of dogs Councils
are seeking to destroy/declare dangerous
under the Domestic Animals Act
Expert witness
Explain the dog's behaviour and give a
reasoned opinion of the chances of the
dog doing it again
Recommend control measures
The Vet Behaviourist and the DD
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Since November 2013, I have been involved with 9 dog attack
cases. 7 went on to council/court/VCAT 5/7 were dog bites to other
animals; 1/7 bite to elderly man; 1/7 knocked down a child
causing injury 1 case BSL used to seek euthanasia; Council is
now applying for destruction through
Dangerous Dog Sections of DAA 7/7 were first offenses for
aggression; the dogs were out due to human error / malfunction
of gates, fences, doors, locks or control systems.
My Experience
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7/7 cases the council attempted to apply destruction orders
despite dangerous dog declarations not requiring this
6/7 Dogs were/are still impounded for lengthy periods
6/7 information from the councils changed
7/7 Owners were not given information about enclosures etc.
Not referred to the Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of
Dogs
7/7 Families are frustrated, angry and frightened for their
dogs
My Experience
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Council questions show a lack of
understanding of dog behaviour Taste for blood
Pack
Siberian husky - looks wolf like so it must be
dangerous
My Experience
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Unnecessary Properly implemented dog control laws existed to
manage dogs Leash and control laws Requirement to have secure
area at home/place of
residence
Enclosures- confining dogs away from their owners is not in the
best interests and welfare of dogs
Too many ways to kill dogs when it is not necessary
Dangerous Dog Legislation
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So flawed it is laughable Appearance does not dictate behaviour
Same large Powerful breeds are 'legal Others are not, based solely
on appearance
Research: Appearance doesn't identify dogs accurately (Voith, V;
Ingram, E:,
Mitsouras, K; Irizarry,K.2009 Comparison of Adoption Agency
Breed Identification and DNA Breed Identification of Dogs Journal
Of Applied Animal Welfare Science 12:3, 253-262 )
Pit bulls and other restricted breeds are no more aggressive
than other dogs (Schalke, E; Ott, S.A; von Gaertner, A.M;
Hackbarth, H; Mittmann, A (2008) Is breed-specific legislation
justified? Study of the results of the temperament test of Lower
Saxony J Veter Behav: Clin App Res Vol.3(3), May 2008, pp.
97-103.)
BSL is being dismantled Overseas. Europe Germany, Netherlands,
Spain United States, Canada United Kingdom Australia????
BSL
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AustralianVeterinary Association does not
support Breed Specific Legislation
Deed not Breed
Australian Veterinary Association does support
sensible Dangerous Dog Legislations
AVA Position
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AVA Document
Dangerous dogs a sensible solution Policy and model
legislative
framework August 2012
On-Line:
https://www.ava.com.au/sites/default/files/AVA_website/pdfs/Dangerous
%20dogs%20-%20a%20sensible%20solution%20FINAL.pdf
(Google: AVA Dangerous Dogs Legislation)
AVA Position
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Plan for Managing Dogs and minimising bites in our
communities
Identification and registration of all dogs.
A national reporting system with mandatory reporting of all dog
bite incidents to the national database.
Temperament testing
to understand the risks and needs of individual animals,
to help owners make more appropriate choices for their new
pets
to guide breeders to improve the temperament of puppies.
Comprehensive education programs for pet owners, dog breeders,
all parents and all children.
Enforcement of all dog management regulations.
Resourcing is often a major barrier to effective enforcement,
and this problem needs to be addressed effectively to achieve
tangible reductions in dog bite incidents.
AVA Position
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Educate
Dog Owners about normal dog behaviour
Council staff that manage dog issues
Normal dog behaviour
Human animal bond
In My Perfect World.
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Police the Dog Laws
identify unregistered dogs
dogs off lead
fencing
In My Perfect World.
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Treat each case on an individual basis Dog bites will happen
Recognise that for some bite/injuries they
are true accidents Solutions can be found that satisfy the
victim and that will reduce the chances of reoccurrence while
allowing dogs to stay with their families
Monitor and take action for non-compliance before another
incident
In My Perfect World.
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Dismantle BSL WOFTAM
Educate Dog Owners- Normal dog behaviour Responsible dog
ownership
Educate Public Normal dog behaviour
Educate Rangers As before
Treat each case individually
In My Perfect World.
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Thank You
