Is it more dangerous? dog Because of your race? What does your sociability depend on? Latest dog attacks resulting in deaths It has reopened the debate on how to guarantee a peaceful and safe coexistence between animals and humans, beyond the new animal welfare law.
One of the aspects that the recently introduced Animal Welfare Act seeks to resolve in relation to privately managed dogs is that although they are currently classed in regulations governing them as potentially dangerous due to their physical characteristics, for example with a bite that is “capable of killing”, on the contrary they are good individual They will demonstrate behavioral and socialization skills.
Most are “very good”
María Luisa Fernández, Small Animals advisor of the General Council of Veterinary Colleges of Spain and president of the Veterinary College of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, told Efe that most of the specimens classified as potentially dangerous according to their species, however, are “very good” and “socially acceptable” in their individual behavior, there is no problem.
Following a highly controversial process, with partial legislation pending, regarding the Animal Welfare Law, which came into force at the end of September. The current identification model for dogs considered dangerous was ultimately left unchanged as originally planned. This will continue to be done through competition as before.
The current model for identifying potentially dangerous dogs has been left unchanged in the new Animal Welfare Act
The list of dogs considered potentially dangerous (PPP) dates back to 1999 and is contained in a special law for their regulation. has not changed with the latest legislative changes About animal protection.
The following typologies are included: Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu and Akita Inu. Depending on the autonomous communities, other races are added to these races in the national list.
Examples of breeds classified as potentially dangerous as there has been no change in the legislation governing them It must be kept on a leash and muzzle by its owner. To guarantee the safety of citizens and prevent risky situations, as it has been until today.
According to the Royal Spanish Canine Society (RSCE) There are approximately 100,000 dogs in Spain belonging to breeds classified as potentially dangerous.
According to law 50/1999, the definition of a potentially dangerous animal is “a racial typology, aggressive character, jaw size or strength is capable of causing death or injury.”
It’s not just about race
Overall, there is broad consensus among professionals in the industry. A dog’s aggression is multifactorial and should not be limited solely to its breed or genetics.
According to María Luisa Fernández of the College of Veterinary Medicine, “in veterinary clinics Chihuahuas or poodles bite much more than larger dogs“, but due to the type of bite and the size of the animal, the wounds are minor.
Veterinarians say a dog’s aggression is multifactorial and shouldn’t be limited to just its breed or genetics.
On the contrary, an attack dog’s bite can tear the victim apart due to its physical characteristics and the size of the animal; There are also large dogs like shepherds, but they do not become prey when they bite.
According to the Ministry of Social Rights of the current coalition government in office, the idea in the Potentially Dangerous Dogs Act 1999 is that: breed classification regulations have been changed so that putative dangerousness is assessed by a “test” not because of the animal’s lineage, but because of its sociality.
According to the information provided by the Ministry to Efe, it was stated that this test will be carried out by “veterinary experts and trainers” in order to determine the dogs that are dangerous and those that are not, according to the size, weight and other criteria.
A “complex” test, according to veterinarians
But there are concerns from the veterinary industry that these so-called sociability tests would be too complex to administer. Given that there are many factors that can influence hazard, the results will also be uncertain when it comes to verifying hazardousness.
“Simple tests do not work to evaluate the behavior of animals,” said the Small Animals advisor of the General Council of Veterinary Colleges of Spain.
Moreover, 7 million dogs in Spain should be testedboth those on the racially potentially dangerous list and those outside it, that is, everyone.
The Royal Canine Society of Spain called for responsible breeding for the protection of the species as a guarantee of predictability in their behavior and called for responsible ownership of animals to prevent attacks.
The Environmental Prosecutor’s Office also recently wrote a letter urging other experts to exercise caution following “confusion” created by potentially dangerous dogs in the processing of animal welfare legislation.
“Theoretical and doctrinal claims are one thing (…) and quite another; the animal being slaughtered, the victim lying on the ground and covered in blood, being attacked by a potentially dangerous dog, and what should not be said when the victim is a human being.” ” ; this is definitely “the first and most important budget we need to start with.”