Shocking and dangerous journalism ...

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/top_stories/9263660.News_Shopper_launches_campaign_against_dangerous_dogs/

Makes me sick.... What with all the Staffys in rescues and the save lennox situation.

It's articles like this that make us responsible owners and dogs labelled.

I've actually phoned the journalist and directed her to the save lennox campaign. And that this is what could happen!!!!

contact details phone 01689 836211

Complaints

http://www.pcc.org.uk/complaints/process.html

News Shopper
Mega House, Crest View Drive
Petts Wood, BR5 1BT

I'm speachless, I can't even put it into words to complain!

"Are Staffordshire bull terriers banned?

No. Despite at least five Staffordshire bull terrier attacks in the News Shopper area in the last three years, they are legal and don't need a muzzle in public."

What the hell!?!

I'm still fuming!!!

Could I bring your attention to the link below. Should we muzzle Westies too then as they are obviously a dangerous breed!!!!!!!! Some people need educating. Sorry, still fuming and not making sense, sorry.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-14331673

I'm suprised there isn't a picture of staffie to accompany that article!

"Shop a dog and win a mug". I'm amazed.

My biggest problem with Violet isn't that she's vicious, it's that she is too friendly with strangers and struts about thinking "I'm Violet, and everyone loves me, and you all want to rub my belly and say how pretty I am. Look at my coat, isn't it lovely? See my tail wagging?! WOOSH."

Saying that ALL staffys are dangerous is like saying all people that wear hoodies are going to rob old people!!

I have been bitten by a boxer and several yappy little dogs of varying types yet they are OK because they have 'little' bites, still flipping hurts though!

I used to wash dogs years ago.. I washed rotties, pit bulls, dobermans, staffys by the dozen.. yet I only ever got bitten by a small fluffy white dog, a poodle cross, and an australian terrier!!

grrrrrr, what an article. THe discussions that follow it were very interesting with lots of good points made! It seems that the majority of people were dog lovers in general with nothing against staffies!

A friend of my sisters family lab had to be put down cos it bit a kid on the face. Thats a lab, considered a great family dog! THe kid had been sticking pencils up the dogs noise....

shop a dog win a mug----is this right pit bull terriers are illegal, if this is true, theres a guy across the road with one, im not dobbing him in a hes a lovely dog, should be the owner punished for owning one, if im right that they are banned

From the article "Whether your dog is a banned type depends on what your dog actually looks like, rather than the breed. "

Huh?? They are kidding right?

I hate this kind of publicity "Staffies are this" "staffies do that" when we was looking for a dog at our local RSPCA they recomended staffies due to there loving nature. The only thing my two staffies would do is lick you to death

same with my staff all she would do is play with you and lick you to death

Quite seriously i think Westies are the most nasty breed of dog Samson has been bitten by 2 Westies and never reacted in any way he's been bit on the ear by a Dalmation, and bit on the face by a Jack Russell if it was the other way round he'd have been destroyed, but these attacks are never reported.

The problem the Stafford has is its exploited by a section of society which causes problems for other responsible owners and the breed.

we should start a national campaign

Omg I am utterly shocked at this article. I have just sat for a while reading some of the comments.

honestly what the heck is that ???!!!!
' Force all Staffordshire Bull Terriers to wear a muzzle in public."

excuse me???

force all rubbish journalists to stop writing about stuff they have no idea about!

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/9285003.Part_two_of_News_Shopper_s_Shop_a_Dog_campaign/

Part two is up!!!!

The attack they talk about happened on PRIVATE property!!!

Why does that mean they believe MY dog should wear a muzzle!!!!!!!

Unbiassed my *! If there is not a more positive article next week I will be on the phone again!!!!!!!

It's a hate campaign. Purely and simply.makes me so angry

I'm actually really shocked that they are allowed to print this sort of thing. Surely it could be classed as slander towards the breed??!

What sort of person would report someone's pet for a free mug??!

I'm my
Anger yesterday I emailed the Kennel Club media tram

This is the response

Good morning Zoe,
 
Thank you for your email regarding the News Shopper ‘Shop a Dog’ campaign. 
 
The Kennel Club has been made aware of this campaign and our Communications Director and Secretary, Caroline Kisko, has sent a letter to the web editor of News Shopper to voice our concerns over the negative effect the campaign is likely to have.
 
The letter mentions the following points:
 
·         The urgent need to stop this campaign to avoid any further negative implications for Staffordshire Bull Terriers.  The campaign is riddled with the underlying assumption that the Dangerous Dogs Act is in principle correct.  The Kennel Club holds the view that the DDA is seriously flawed and has failed to protect the public from dog attacks.  In fact, since the Act was introduced in 1991, the number of dog biting incidents has actually increased.
·         NHS statistics on dog-related incidents in the area that the campaign uses will include accidents indirectly related to dogs – i.e. someone tripping over a dog – as well as purposeful attacks.
·         Current legislation is fundamentally flawed as it deems certain types of dog to be dangerous, and police resources are wasted by targeting all dogs deemed to be of ‘type’ rather than targeting any dog that has shown signs of being aggressive.  The Kennel Club, as part of the Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group (which consists of many well known animals welfare organisations, animal health organisations and local authorities – such as Dogs Trust, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, British Veterinary Association, Blue Cross, Wandsworth Borough Council, Battersea Dog and Cats Home, amongst others) has considerable input in Lord Rupert Redesdale’s Dog Control Bill which is currently in the House of Lords.  The Bill highlights the Kennel Club’s belief that focus should be on the deed rather than the breed and that the unnecessary persecution of all dogs of ‘type’ is counterproductive and causes huge welfare implications for these breeds of dog. 
·         More responsibility needs to be placed with the owners of aggressive dogs.  The DDASG’s Dog Control Bill would allow for prosecution of irresponsible dog owners even within private property, so certain aspects of the ‘Shop a Dog’ campaign falls in line with this, however by calling for ‘All Staffordshire Bull Terriers to be muzzled’ they are doing more damage than good, and are further supporting the stereotype that this breed is ‘dangerous’ – which is likely to increase numbers of irresponsible owners buying a Staffy as a ‘trophy’ dog.
·         The key fact is that any dog can potentially be dangerous in the hands of an irresponsible owner.  Staffordshire Bull Terriers have historically been referred to as ‘nanny dogs’ as they are so good with children, and other countries even use this breed as guide dogs due to their loyalty and respect for their owner.
·         Instead of the ‘Shop a Dog’ campaign we urged News Shopper to support the Kennel Club’s, and DDASG’s, campaign to a change in current legislation but signing our petition at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/repeal-and-replace-the-dangerous-dogs-act.html.
 
Hopefully the News Shopper will take another look at the implications of their campaign and join the Kennel Club’s continuing efforts to have the Dangerous Dogs Act overhauled to better protect the public and the welfare of all dogs.
 
I hope this information is of use to you.  If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to let me know!
 
Thanks again for taking the time to voice your concerns.
 
Kind regards
 
David     
 

Bumping this up x

I got a responce back from the complaint I made along with a name of the person who is dealing with it.

posted the petition to my facebook!! well done Zoe!!!

<----how i feel on this grrr