The devil’s advocate part 2The devil’s advocate part 2What bites you in the bum? What bites you in the bum?

Iaira Boissevain, BSC, LLMAttorney at lawBoissevain@bvdv.nl

BSLBSL

• BSL = TSL. Not only about breeds. Type BSL = TSL. Not only about breeds. Type specific legislation. specific legislation.

• TSL = general assumed as animal welfare TSL = general assumed as animal welfare impairment. impairment.

• Not discussing pro/con pitbull views here, Not discussing pro/con pitbull views here, only addressing only addressing animalanimal welfare welfare issues. issues.

NetherlandsNetherlands

• 1993-20091993-2009

Type “pitbull” prohibited by law. Every dog with Type “pitbull” prohibited by law. Every dog with characteristics and characteristics and withoutwithout pedigree (i.e. Ambull, pedigree (i.e. Ambull, Boerboel, other mixes): forbidden by fade-out Boerboel, other mixes): forbidden by fade-out construction. Obtaining, selling, breeding forbidden, construction. Obtaining, selling, breeding forbidden, but also just having. but also just having.

2009: Pitbull ban was lifted. 2009: Pitbull ban was lifted.

No B/TSL: animal welfare issuesNo B/TSL: animal welfare issues

• Shelters Shelters – DogsDogs

– CostsCosts

– Status/credibilityStatus/credibility

• Dog crimes (abuse, neglect and other)Dog crimes (abuse, neglect and other)

• Dog fightingDog fighting

• Victims as an animal welfare issueVictims as an animal welfare issue

Shelter - 1Shelter - 1

• Ban lifted: major increase, up to 80-90%Ban lifted: major increase, up to 80-90%

Animal welfare?Animal welfare?

• Often aggression problemsOften aggression problems

• Life in cagesLife in cages Euthanasia (UK, USA, NL?)Euthanasia (UK, USA, NL?)

No other type of dog where this effect is so No other type of dog where this effect is so exceptional. exceptional.

Shelter - 2Shelter - 2

• 2 weeks finance, after that?2 weeks finance, after that?

• Extreme high costsExtreme high costs

• Often single confinementOften single confinement

Shelter - 3Shelter - 3

1) Despair: put up “labradors” for adoption; 1) Despair: put up “labradors” for adoption;

major major credibility shelter. credibility shelter.

2) Image shelter as source for nice mongrel dogs, now 2) Image shelter as source for nice mongrel dogs, now load of fighting dogs. People turn away. load of fighting dogs. People turn away.

3) Not very social “TSL” dogs are offered for nice 3) Not very social “TSL” dogs are offered for nice walks in the park. Major walks in the park. Major credibility. credibility.

Dog – crimes - 1Dog – crimes - 1

• Crimes against humans: violence, Crimes against humans: violence, women-trade, abuse, obduction. women-trade, abuse, obduction.

Dogs involved by criminals are Dogs involved by criminals are

TSL – dogs. Also bite victims, non-reported. TSL – dogs. Also bite victims, non-reported.

Dog crimes - 2Dog crimes - 2

Dog abuse and neglectDog abuse and neglect

Which dog is most prone?Which dog is most prone?

All cases: > 30 % TSL dogsAll cases: > 30 % TSL dogs

Dog cases: > 80 % TSL dogsDog cases: > 80 % TSL dogs

Dogfighting - 1Dogfighting - 1

• No TSL = free rein = No TSL = free rein = Beaten & wounded cadavers in park on Beaten & wounded cadavers in park on

Monday morning Monday morning Horrible training methodsHorrible training methodsBreeding, and dumping puppies or selling Breeding, and dumping puppies or selling

themthem

Dogfighting - 2Dogfighting - 2

Stolen dogs to use as bait/training Stolen dogs to use as bait/training materialmaterial

Cheap bait: Dog shelters! Wide range of Cheap bait: Dog shelters! Wide range of non/less social TSL dogs. non/less social TSL dogs.

Animal welfare: victims - 1Animal welfare: victims - 1

• Vet practices: Vet practices: 4 4 serious wounded dogs a serious wounded dogs a week. week.

• Behaviorist: major Behaviorist: major increase victims, but increase victims, but also TSL dogs who bite. also TSL dogs who bite.

• Damage/liability expert: Damage/liability expert: now 80-90% TSL cases. now 80-90% TSL cases.

Animal welfare: victims -2Animal welfare: victims -2

• Cases attacks sept 2011-Cases attacks sept 2011-2014: 129 case reports2014: 129 case reports

• 176 Dogs involved176 Dogs involved• Victims: dogs, humans, Victims: dogs, humans,

both, horses, cattle, catsboth, horses, cattle, cats• All serious maiming All serious maiming

and/or killingand/or killing

Animal welfare: victims - 3Animal welfare: victims - 3

Results of Results of serious dog-dog aggression: serious dog-dog aggression:

Acceptance of dogs in societyAcceptance of dogs in society

Social interaction with dog-ownersSocial interaction with dog-owners

Desperate defensive aggression towards Desperate defensive aggression towards approaching dogsapproaching dogs

Arms raceArms race

Animal welfareAnimal welfare

Animal welfareAnimal welfare: :

TSL-dogs: TSL-dogs:

Protecting by having them, being prone to Protecting by having them, being prone to bad people, or help them by serious bad people, or help them by serious prevention? prevention?

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!