N.S.W. To Ban Pit bulls, my letter.

[tybrax]

21-Nov-05


Dear Mr..Irwin.
I want to know why has the N.S.W Government has overlooked the mental health side of the new animals companions ACT. ?? And the effect it’s going to have on children and there families, the trauma they will suffer.
There are no qualifications listed for a breed assessor or an approved temperament assessor, if there is would you kindly lead me to the site to check the qualifications and the accreditations of these officers. Section 58 states protection and liability in or approved temperament assessor does not incur any civil or criminal liability in respect of anything done or omitted to be done in good faith by the assessor in connection with carrying out an assessment of a dog’s breed or temperament for the purposes of this division. A declaration or other decision by a council under this division is final and not a subject to any appeal or review.
What no Natural Justice for families? No right of appeal, don’t families have Constitutional Rights? They can just take our dogs on there hear say and we have no rights at all? What gives Governments the right to play god with our families children and our pets? This is a Constitutional Challenge for families.
There is no Genetic evidence that one breed of dog is more dangerous than the other, simply because of breed. This was proved in a court of Law in America; American Canine Temperatement testing Association scored the American Pit bull 82%5.
Breed Specific Legislation frequently refers to pit bulls and pit mixes with out giving a definition of what is considered a “Pit Bull/mix”. This leads to a serious Constutional and frequent identification problems. The Legislation is unworkable and unenforceable. Breed identification is virtually impossible, especially identification of the” Pit Bull” type dog because it is NOT a breed, rather a catch term for a number of breeds, mixed breeds and sometimes unknown combinations of breeds.
Even DNA testing has not been proven to be able to pick one breed over another. So there for the Assessors and Breed Temperament Assessor have no qualifications in this area because it cannot be done, you cannot identify a cross breed or a pit bull dog.
QUESTION, IS THE WORDING OF THE RESTRICTED DOG LAWS UNCONSTUTIONALLY
VAGUE AND THEREFORE BE VOID DUE TO VAGUENESS??
The wording American Pit bull Terrier “ or “Pit bull’ used as an easily identifiable breed of dog is clearly vague and in no way sufficiently clear and precise therefore violates equal protection and due process, by not stipulating specific guidelines in inhibit Councils Animals Control Officers from enforcing the Law in an arbitrary or discriminatory fashion and on the ground that the definition of an American Pit Bull Terrier ‘, Pit bull terrier, is on its face unconstitutionally vague or void due to vagueness. ? Therefore the NSW Animal Companion ACT is FLAWED.
Why should any Family or the children suffer the mental trauma this Government is going to dish out to them, by seizing there beloved pet because of breed. There have been three suicides in Qld over this disgusting law called breed specific legislation. Many families have had to seek medical help for themselves and the children because they have suffered depression, and are on anti Depressants. Who do there families sue when their child takes their life? This is what children and adults will suffer form when the NSW Government and councils take their beloved dog.
Sadness
Denial, shock and confusion
• Anger and irritability
• Inability to sleep
• Nightmares
• Loss of appetite
• Fear of being alone
• Frequent physical complaints such as stomachaches and headaches
• Loss of concentration
• Guilt over failure to prevent the loss
• Depression or a loss of interest in daily activities and events
• Acting much younger for an extended period or reverting to earlier behaviors (e.g., bedwetting, baby talk or thumb-sucking)
• Boisterous play
• Withdrawal from friends
• Sharp drop in school performance or refusal to attend school
• Excessively imitating or asking questions about the deceased or making repeated statements of wanting to join the deceased
• Inventing games about dying
• Humiliation or guilt over personal failure to prevent loss of life
Profound emotional reactions (e.g., anxiety attacks, chronic fatigue or thoughts of suicide)
• Children will regress and withdraw from families and friends, suffer abandonment
• And why will they suffer because. Councils and governments have taken there dog away, not because it’s harmed or injured in any way but because so called expert will identify then as pit bulls.
• This is a form of Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide. If a dog attacks or harms in anyway you have a right to seize the dog and put it down. But to seize innocent family pets
• And kill them because of there breed is a disgusting act and a heinous crime bought on by the governments and councils.
I will look forward to your response.
Thankyou.

tybrax.




Response.


Dear tybrax ,

My understanding of the Act is that no restricted breed or cross there from will be seized unless the owner is in breach of the requirements specified under the act ie containment ,muzzle, lead etc.

Thank you for taking the time to write to me, I have indeed read your letter, but can not comment further, I would however suggest that you address it to and send it to the Director General of the NSW Department of Local Government.

Keith Irwin

[linnie]

keep up the good work
Although knowing the australian government as I do one cant help but wonder how long they will pass the buck.

[Cassiepeia]

Haven't they already banned them?

Good letter though.

Cass.

[fluffypuppylover]

Good letter.

Have people really committed suicide over this? I don't mean to sully it, or your letter in any way, but it seems a bit much. Though perhaps there were other, underlying reasons. I'm in the US and haven't heard a word of this ban before this.

[tybrax]

Yes it's a fact that people have suicided over this. I am from Brisbane QLD the Bsl law was introduced here in 2003. The laws was introduced in Victoria on the 2nd of November this year, and New South Wales have followed suit.


tybrax

[EmmaMarie]

Good letter, too bad they won't really pay it much mind....keep up the good work though.