Pit bulls could be back on the streets if the recommendations of a state parliamentary report are adopted.
Heavy restrictions were placed on the dogs in 2011 and further changes were made in 2014, but an inquiry has found the restrictions had failed and should be lifted.
A report from a parliamentary committee said it was “impossible” for councils to identify dangerous dogs just by looking at them and there was no way to tell if pit bulls were more dangerous than other dogs.
This was demonstrated during a high-profile case where a Brimbank council decision to declare one dog as dangerous resulted in a costly legal battle.
Mylo, an American Staffordshire terrier-cross, was found wandering at large in May 2012 and was not registered or microchipped.
A declaration by a Brimbank council authorised officer that the dog was of a restricted breed was overturned on appeal by the owner at VCAT.
The case was decided on the standards of restricted breed dogs (which had changed since the animal was impounded) and the dog won a reprieve after he had sat on death row at the council pound for two years and seven months.
THE REPORT FOUND STUDIES ON PIT BULL AGGRESSIVENESS WERE INCONCLUSIVE.
It has been estimated Brimbank council could have spent between $250,000 and $300,000 on legal costs during the Mylo case.
Council welcomes report
Council development director Stuart Menzies said the council was committed to promoting animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, and ensuring community safety.
“Council welcomes the release of the Legislative Council economy and infrastructure committee’s report regarding restricted-breed dogs,” he said.
“Detail of the committee’s extensive report is still being reviewed, but it appears many of the issues raised by council in its submission have been investigated. These include ambiguity of the current standards for restricted-breed dogs and the pivotal role local government plays in animal management.”
Studies on pit bull aggressiveness and danger were inconclusive, the report found, and it was impossible to say they were more dangerous than other dog breeds.
Many people who made submissions to the inquiry argued there was a “moral panic” going on against pit bulls and that media reporting of pit bull attacks had been inaccurate.
Other recommendations made by the committee include that the muzzling of non- racing greyhounds no longer be required, setting up of a database of all dog registrations and attacks, and greater penalties for owners of restricted-breed dogs who did not register them correctly or keep them securely.
Groups including the RSPCA, Animals Australia and the Australian Veterinary Association called for an end to pit bull restrictions.
