An increasing number of dog owners are having to rehome or seek emergency shelter for their pets after being refused certain breeds in private and social housing.
The GSPCA - which has felt the brunt of that increase - is pleading with landlords who have breed-specific policies based on the UK's"outdated" 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act to focus on individual circumstances.
That Law is not in force locally, however the States' Housing Department has its own banned list and some landlords are understood to base their policies off the UK's exclusion list.
“While we would fully support a legislation to protect the public, breed is not a predicator of aggression," said the GSPCA's Welfare and Behaviour Manager Lorna Chadwick.
Having worked at the Battersea Dogs’ Home, she had seen dogs and even pups being euthanised purely because of their breed in the name of the Dangerous Dogs Act.
"Any dog has the potential to be out of control and dangerous if it has been purposely trained to do so or has received incorrect training from a so-called ‘professional’ or its owner.”
“The focus should be on responsible dog ownership and the owners of dogs being held accountable for the behaviour of the dog they raise. Any breed-specific legislation or policy is not fit for purpose and demonstrates a lack of understanding of canine behaviour. It is not in the interest of animal welfare.”
This year the GSPCA has recorded "a marked increase" in the number of requests from families in Guernsey seeking help with rehoming or providing emergency shelter for their dogs as they have been unable to take certain breed types into rented accommodation.
“Some of these dogs have been with their owners since they were puppies and are now in their twilight years," said Ms Chadwick.
“These owners are trying to be responsible by fulfilling their commitment to their dog and caring for them until the end and would rather be homeless than part with them. The effects of the mental and physical health of the dogs and their owners has been devastating.”
GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne said dogs need to be treated "fairly" by landlords, taking each on its merits, behaviour and the responsibility of the owner.
“While working in the UK at the RSPCA we regularly dealt with dogs that were classed as ‘Banned Breeds’ who were lovely, friendly and well trained and each case due to the law in England and Wales was always a horrendous process for all involved.”
Pictured: The Guernsey Housing Association's Pet Policy, which is based on advice from the States Vet, says that all applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
“We are very lucky in Guernsey not to have the same laws and it is well overdue in the UK for these to be reviewed.”
“It is important that each home has animals suitable for that environment. At the GSPCA we assess each individual animal and home rather than having lists of suitable or banned breeds as this is unfair both on the individual animal and the potential owners.”
Pictured top: Some of the dogs currently in the GSPCA’s care.
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