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Fighting Dogs off the Streets Politicians took fast and decisive action a few days ago, on attacks from fighting dogs. After a six year old boy in Hamburg was killed by one of these dogs, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder demanded "Our streets must be cleared of these fighting machines." Both the Regional Inner Ministeries and the State Cabinet decided, on Wednesday, June 28, that stern measures must be taken to prevent similar accidents happening in the future.

Inner Ministers’ Conference The Inner Ministers of the Federal States decided on Wednesday on an ongoing breeding ban that would not only apply to fighting breeds, like Bull Terrier, American Staffordshires and Pit Bulls but also potentially dangerous breeds and crosses. The ban would be immediate and unchallengable. These regulations would be enacted immediately in individual Federal States. In addition the ministers urged the city and district councils to use all existing legislative powers to enforce the leash and muzzle laws for dangerous dogs.

Federal Cabinet The Cabinet, also, has decided on measures against fighting dogs. The Ministry for Agriculture would legislate against the breeding and import of dangerous dogs by changes in the Animal Protection Laws. The Cabinet will decide on these regulations in two weeks time. In addition the Justice Minister prepared a law covering violations of the ban on breeding and keeping, with heavy penalties being imposed. State Minister Schily said, after the Cabinet sitting, that in his view, there should not just be a heavy fine but they should threaten to imprison offenders. The Ministers have instructed Justice Minister Herta Däubler-Gmelin to create a corresponding offence penalty.

States Even before the decisions of the Inner Ministers’ Conference and the Cabinet, some States had reacted to the latest bloody attack from fighting dogs. The SPD lead governments of North-Rhine/Westphalia, Hamburg, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony decided to ban the import, keeping and breeding of fighting dogs and to classify others as dangerous at different levels. Berlin and other States announced clear measures. Bavaria, has for a long time, had ongoing legal restrictions on the owning and breeding of fighting dogs.

The Example of Lower Saxony On June 27, the Lower Saxony Federal Government decided on considerable restrictions. A clear direction came from a Senate descision the same day. In Lower Saxony the breeding, import and keeping of a Pitbull, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bullterrier, or their blood lines would be liable to a fine of up to 100,000 DM [over £30,000] and imprisonment of six months. “ There is no doubt that the proof of the danger for these breeds is in their genes,” explained Agriculture Minister Uwe Bartels. A further 15 breeds are subject to a leash and muzzle constraint. The official rules of the cities and states [group] will be strengthened, in the case of the leash and muzzle constraint, so that it can be extended to more breeds. The cities and states [group] should moreover, introduce a law for all conspicuous dogs and keepers, forcing a temperament test for the dogs and a suitability test for the keeper. Owners of existing animals of the especially dangerous blood lines, which in the future would be absolutely forbidden, should also be able to take both these tests, with the authorities responsible, if their dog is assessed not dangerous and they wish to keep it.

Düsseldorf, 28.06.2000 The Regional Inner Ministers and State Senators, today, June 28, concerned themselves, by telephone conference, with the Protection of the Public from Dangerous Dogs Breeding Ban, Leashing and Muzzling for Dangerous Dogs The Inner Ministers and Senators will take harsh action against dangerous dogs in Germany. The standing conference of Inner Ministers and Senates welcomed the fact that, since May this year, following the initiatives of the Inner Ministers' Conference, the Federal States have resorted to new regulations which enable an improved protection from dangerous dogs. The Minister responsible in each State is to effect an immediate ban on breeding dangerous dogs. In as much as the Inner Ministers and Senators are themselves responsible for measures against dangerous dogs, the appropriate regulations will be enacted at the earliest possible time. The Inner Ministers and Senators emphatically draw the attention of the cities and districts to the existing legal opportunities to enforce the leash and muzzle requirements and the opportunity to fully utilise the execution of administrative procedures and resort to other legally permitted measures of danger prevention. The Inner Ministers welcomed the proposal made by the Federal State Inner Minister to the Federal Cabinet, to create a legal foundation for an import ban on fighting dogs and make the breeding and keeping of them a criminal violation against the States. The Inner Ministers and Senators emphatically underlined the need to protect the public from dangerous dogs. This has been in place since the Inner Ministers' Conference in Düsseldorf in May this year, not just specific breeds such as Pitbulls, American Staffordshire Terriers or Bullterriers, but can apply to other breeds and cross-breeds which are individually dangerous.

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