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Well .. any man that will not change his mind has no mind to change.
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Changing perceptions in the Hugh and cry over pit bulls
FOR decades, Hugh Wirth was the nation's most ferocious critic of American pit bulls: the dogs were killing machines and a despicable breed, he said. Now, he is officially silent.
Although still Victorian president of the RSPCA, Dr Wirth is no longer its public voice on the contentious issue of the breed's existence.
It is not that his opinion on the dog has changed. Rather, it is the RSPCA that has changed, with an official policy that it is ''the deed not the breed'' that matters.
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''There's a difference with my view as president of the RSPCA Victoria, and a difference with my attitude privately,'' Dr Wirth said, speaking for the first time on the issue.
The new policy was adopted two years ago, but Dr Wirth's position emerged only recently, after the August death of Ayen Chol, 4, who was attacked by a pit bull that entered her St Albans home.
Dr Wirth said there had been no RSPCA gag, but at 72 and after four decades as spokesman, it was time for the organisation to ''train some other people''.
RSPCA chief executive Maria Mercurio said policies were reviewed regularly, based on the latest research. ''Hugh epitomises to a large extent the RSPCA's approach to these sorts of issues,'' she said. ''While he holds a very strong personal position, the RSPCA as a whole needs to move on.''
Dr Wirth has shifted significantly his thinking on dealing with American pit bulls. He no longer supports a legislative approach. ''What I'm saying is that there is no hope of any legislation, including the latest legislation in Victoria, dealing with the problem of having pit bull terriers in the community,'' he said.
''It just will not work. It's not worked in England, it's not worked in Holland, it's not worked in Belgium, and it hasn't worked in Italy. And all those countries have withdrawn the legislation because it's so time-consuming.''
The community's attitude to dog ownership had to change, he said, with a more rigorous approach to selecting dogs and raising them.
Dr Wirth said the legislation had given the community a feeling of safety - and that safety was non-existent. ''There's been a political solution, which implies new community safety, and that's not true.''
There is now a clear division between the state's two key animal welfare groups.
The Lost Dogs' Home, led by veteran Dr Graeme Smith maintains its fierce public opposition to the breed and strongly supports the new laws.
''We're on the side of doing something about American pit bull terriers because of our concerns that they are a very dangerous dog,'' Dr Smith said.
''When I interview owners who have been attacked by their own dogs, they talk about how the animal has been normal and well-behaved. Then all of a sudden, out of the blue, the dog goes off and attacks the owner.
''My feeling, generally speaking, is that laws can work, and 80 per cent of the population will abide by them.
''They will be an improvement in the way American pit bulls are managed.''
The first challenge to the new laws is expected to go before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal later this month, with a Ballarat couple arguing their dog was seized despite attempts to register it.
Well .. any man that will not change his mind has no mind to change.
Vendo.
------ TALK IS CHEAP.... SHOW US YOUR DOG
www.workingdutchshepherds.com.au
www.qldsecuritysolutions.com.au
, Hugh Wirth I've never liked him he uses media to put fear into people who generally know nothing bout dogs, by warning them bout pits rotts etc. In the wrong hands they obviously going to be not do good but generally bad breeding and crosses is wat these people get. Friends of mine have pit bulls great friendly dogs. There are many more Maltese and jack Russell's that r problem dogs in community but no one cares because they can't really do that much damage. The owners of these dogs think they own dog parks etc and can't see the problem is them and there untrained unsocialized pocket rockets with a death wish. These ppl shit me to tears. They then have the nerve to have a crack bout your leashed dog. I think sometimes I should just let my dogs snap these dogs in half. But wat is the point??? But people like him will continue crapping on bout how dangerous these breeds are. What number do pitbulls come in bites? I'm sure it will b after labs golden retrievers jack russels I'm sure if it.. I'm glad he is gone maybe someone with a brain will talk more sense
Last edited by Billy Feron; 12-13-2011 at 08:53 PM.
About 10 years ago, here in Belgium, there were also politicians talking about banning breeds and banning bite work.
Then there was a research group formed with all kinds of different people in it who had interested in this theme like veterinarians, behaviorists, kennel club, police.
After a year of discussing and debating this issue we came to the conclusion that banning would not solve the problem but controlling and education would.
So now each bite incident have to be reported and is being put in a date base so the commission can see if a certain breed, training school, club or community is involved.
And then action can being taken but not against dogs or club but against the dogs or people who are responsible for it.
Every trainers or decoy has to have a license that you have to get after a 260 hours course and exam.
Even police and military instructors had to do the exams.
Then a test of sociability was created and every dog that does any kind of dog sport must pass this test before competing and in some problem areas of our country, these test is obligated for every dog owner before the dog is 18 months old otherwise the dog must be muzzled when he is on the street.
But never the less, there will be always biting incidents because there are allot of terrible dog owners but also lies a huge responsibility with the breeders from any kind of breed, because there are also allot of bad dogs bred everyday.
Chris Loverseed (12-13-2011), Nathan Cram (12-14-2011), Shane Johnson (12-16-2011), Vendo Vincent (12-13-2011)
That is a nice common sense appraoch and I beleive its not that hard to acheive but it takes committment and open discussion with stakeholders and that is something they will not do in this country.Big brother always knows best.This is a democratic country but there is no democratic process at play.Like a wise person once said. "IF voting changed anything they would make it illegal"Originally Posted by Jean Lobbinger
I am skeptical about his stance and wonder how much of it is the RSPCA putting a gag on him or threatening to dump him.There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that he was dumped as national President because of his stance on bsl.When it strted to hurt RSPCA coffers they had to act and then come up with shows like RSPCA rescue to win back the hearts and minds of the donating public.Whenever they have phoned me up I have given them an earbashing and told them in no uncertain terms why Iwould never donate money to them becuase of his pompous arrogant irrational idiotic attitude and not being in touch with the rest of the public.He is a dinosaur. I do beleive the volounteers do a good job though.Mybe I am just a cynic and maybe it has finally sunk in to him that it cant work.God knows how many years we have been telling him and he never changed his stance then.Maybe he has sen the light.
Last edited by Shane Johnson; 12-16-2011 at 01:38 AM.
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