what are my rights as a staffie cross owner?

Question

the local dog warden said my staffie is a pit just because he has long legs, he wants him to be surrendered and destroyed what rights do i have

Answer 1

Oh my God, i am so sorry. I live in an apartment that bases a breed only on it's looks, and it sounds like that is what the dog warden is doing. Try going to a vet clinic and see if they can some how prove that he is not an American Pit Bull Terrier. Even if they just write down staffy cross or terrier mix on the medical records. The clinic where i work will do that for people sometimes, who might lose their dog. Good Luck, i hope this helps, and i hope you find more information to help you. I do not want you to have to lose your dog, just because he might LOOK like a pit bull.

Answer 2

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is the most prominent of the various laws that cover dog ownership in the UK.

The act bans the breeding and sale or exchange of four kinds of dog - pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosas, the Dogo Argentinos, and the Fila Brasileiros. Cross-breeds of those dogs are covered by the law.

Any other dogs "appearing... to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose" are also banned.


Under the act, a dog classed as being "dangerously out of control in a public place" can be destroyed. The owner can be fined and imprisoned for up to six months.

If a dog injures someone, the owner can be jailed for up to two years.

Other pieces of legislation covering dogs include the Animals Act 1971, which says the keeper of an animal is liable for any damage it causes, the Guard Dogs Act 1975 and the Dogs Act 1871.

The Animal Welfare Act, which comes into force this March, also includes codes of practice for keeping dogs.

There seems to be a grey area when it comes to Staffie crosses...the problem is that a lot of the more unscrupulous owners and breeders are getting round the ban on ownership of pitbulls by breeding the staffordshire bull terrier with american bulldog, mastif, labrador....anything that will make it LOOK like a pit bull...it is then up to appointed vet to prove what breed it is...and for the owner to prove that it ISN'T a pitbull!!! If your dog is classed by law as a pitbull...it is up to you to prove it isn't....if it is proved you dog is not a pitbull...then, as long as your dog is properly under control then no one has the right to sieze your dog or get a distruction order on it.
You need to find out what basis the dog warden has for wanting your dog surrendered and then you need to seek help to establish what you do next.

Answer 3

Go to Pet-Law.com and ask that question on the email list it is a Yahoo group just join it NOW! It sounds like you may be living in Denver. Denver has killed over one thousand dogs simply because they are Pits or Pit Bull mixes. It is an abomination that is spreading all over the country. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is actually introducing this type of legislation all over. They have no shelters and people hand them money thinking that they do while they go out and spend it to make dog ownership a thing of the past. HSUS is run by a Vegan named Wayne Pacelle and his real objective is to end dog ownership so that dogs aren't eating meat. Join Pet-Law and get some better ideas on how to handle this situation! Just click the email list link.

Answer 4

Where do you live? Some states have laws that are against not only Pit Bulls but all the other similar breeds like American Bulldog, etc.
If your dog is a mix and you can get a Vet to state it is a mix of something besides pit bull that is one way out. The other would be to take the dog out of the city and re-home it asap so you don't have to surrender it to the dog warden.
Contact this site and I hope they can help you with what options you may have:
http://pbrc.net/webapp/cgi-bin/orgs_by_state.cgi/25a2558b0b8fd1bb1f990207b510e3ba
And here's the link for the site listed above:
http://www.pet-law.com/index.html
I know you said yours is Staff mix but to law enforcement in some areas this is the same thing.

Answer 5

go onto doglost.com,there is a big issue at the mo regarding this,they do not have the right to demand your dog,
the local police/wardens have made some sort of amnesty,wanting people with illegal pits to hand them in,
but apparantly they do not have any rights to do this,they cannot remove your dog forcibly either,
and how anyone can hand over a much loved pet is beyond me,they know they are handing them over to be destroyed,a lot of these poor dogs have shown no signs of aggression whatsoever,there are some awful stories on dogweb about this as well
Wendy

Answer 6

Did something happen to draw the dog wardens attention? If not I'm fairly sure that it would have to be proved it was a pit bull or otherwise dangerous dog. If you've had no problems just stand your ground probably just trying to make sure you always have your dog under control because of the recent horrible events

Answer 7

i have a staffi/cross yes she has long legs she is cross pit i tell people she is parsons jack/staff. if the warden thinks that let him take DNA very hard to prove and costly.or go to your vet and redg your dog as cross tell vet and he will more than likely agree with u. once vet has agreed it is cross staf nothing anyone can do ONLY PURE BREAD PITS ARE NOT ELEGLE aslong as dog is good natured shows no aggression to people or other dog u will be fine MY HART GOES OUT TO U GOOD LUCK

Answer 8

You would have to get proof that your dog was not a pit bull cross, this could be done at a vet.
However, if it is a cross then you may not have any choice but to give up the dog. A lawyer may be able to help in this case.

Answer 9

None, other than a fair hearing. The legislation bans dogs of pit bull type, not just those that the owners describe as pitbulls.

Answer 10

Hi,
The situation at the moment is dreadful,
Do not sign your dog over if you do you give up all rights of ownership and your dog will be PTS.
Go to a website called Say No To Breed speific legislation theres loads of good advice on there.