Right: pit bull enthusiasts claim that large breeds of dogs are targeted at different times, according to the prevailing "fashion". The list of dogs includes such breeds as the Rhodesian ridgeback.Further implications
When Victoria strengthened its laws regulating pit bull terriers in 2005, there was concern that attempts to ban the breeding of these dogs would be ineffective. Reports of a thriving black market industry and speculation that there are thousands of these dogs in homes, while only hundreds have been registered, seem to bear out the reservations of the original critics.The Victorian Government's new proposal to allow unregistered 'dangerous' dogs, including pit bull terriers, to be immediately put down if they are found unrestrained in public places may serve to make the owners of these dogs more cautious. However, it is unlikely to increase the effectiveness of the Victorian Government's attempt to have the breed die out.
Dr Graeme Smith's proposal that breeding bans apply not only to pedigree dogs but to crossbreeds appears to have more likelihood of success. It would prevent pit bull owners misrepresenting their dogs and (if pit bull crossbreeds are as dangerous as some critics claim) it would be an attempt to remove another dangerous dog population.
Would it succeed completely? This seems unlikely. Dog breed recognition is an inexact science, particularly when crossbreeds are being considered. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to substantiate that a particular dog was a pit bull crossbreed.
Queensland has partly overcome this problem by placing the power to determine in the hands of local councils. Queensland councils have the power to demand that any dog be desexed that they deem potentially dangerous.
However, the question of effectiveness remains. Increasing sanctions tend to do two things. Firstly they drive many owners and breeders of dog underground, where they are more difficult to regulate. Secondly, making a particular breed of dog officially 'dangerous' tends to attract the wrong type of owner.
PETA claims, 'It is important to bear in mind that nice families rarely come to a shelter seeking pit bulls. The vast majority of people who want pit bulls are attracted to the "macho" image of the breed as a living weapon and seek to play up this image by putting the animals in heavy chains; kicking, beating, and otherwise abusing them into aggression.' Put simply, outlawing a breed of dog tends to make those dogs outlaws.
All of this does not address the appropriateness of breed-specific bans as justified by dog attack data. These figures seem to be able to be manipulated by different groups to support very different conclusions.