Animal Shelters and Rescues ‘to blame’ for Rottweiler Attacks – Sensational Claim
A recent meeting between Rottweiler breed club representatives and the Kennel Club produced a sensational claim that it was re-homed Rottweilers, placed into unsuitable homes that had ’caused most of the problems’ in relation to the highly publicised Rottweiler attacks of the past few years, according notes made by a source in attendance.
The meeting notes detail a number of alarming issues affecting the Rottweiler, a breed under serious attack from various sections of the media.
Dave Parrish, of The Rottweiler Club went on to propose re-homed Rottweilers only be placed with families who have been assessed by a local dog warden as to their suitability to manage a rescue dog.
The Kennel Club’s Holly Lee, responding to the issue of re-homing dogs said: “this was not her area of work, but she agreed that it needed looking at further.”
K9 Magazine understands a complaint has been lodged with the Kennel Club by a prominent Rottweiler re-homing charity, unhappy at the claims made in the meeting.
The sensational claim about re-homed Rottweilers was not the only shock to come from the meeting.
Asked about whether it would be possible to tighten restrictions on poorly bred dogs being sold by refusing to accept registrations from bad breeders, Holly Lee revealed the Kennel Club could not deny registrations for ‘legal reasons’.
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She went onto explain that it was the Kennel Club’s “intention to eventually” demand all health tests for a breed requirement of the KC accredited breeder scheme.
Margaret Yates, on behalf of the British Rottweiler Association, expressed concern about the KC accredited breeder scheme, suggesting that anyone who applied and paid a fee would be accepted, which would mislead the public into placing greater trust in accredited breeders over non accredited ones.
Despite the British Rottweiler Association’s concerns over loose regulation of the Kennel Club accredited breeder scheme, Leanne Lewis of the Rottweiler Club of Wales proposed only Rottweilers bred within the Kennel Club’s Accredited Breeder Scheme to be registered with the Kennel Club (at all).
John Hubble, of the South Western Rottweiler Association was more directly critical of the accredited breeder scheme though.
He said “the Accredited Breeder Scheme had been rushed into existence and a lot of people see it as a platform to sell puppies.”
Responding to Mr Hubble’s criticism, Dr Sampson – of the Kennel Club Breeder scheme – said it had been “necessary to get the scheme up and running quickly as there was a huge political agenda surrounding the welfare of pure bred dogs.”
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I am deeply dismayed to read Mr Parrishe’s comments regarding “rescue” dogs,to my knowledge of the “fatalities” that has occured in the Uk over the last few years only one of those dogs were a “rescue”, however I would like to point out that we in the rescue world are not aware of this dog being rehomed via a rescue but appears to have been rehomed privately?
it is all very saying that homechecks should be carried out regarding the suitability of a family’s abilities to rehome a rescued rottweiler,we as a reputable rescue do this as a matter of course but why should homechecks only be needed done for rescue dogs perhaps ALL homes should be checked for suitability whether for a rescue dog or a pup bought from a Breeder.
what we cannot do is stop the dogs being passed round via freeads etc these dogs are not to my mind true “rescue” dogs, true “rescue” dogs will have been assessed,vaccs,neutered etc and a home found to match their needs which is what we ,perhaps some support and appreciation from the Breed Clubs for the reputable rescues who have the breed at heart would go a long way instead of labelling us as the ones who are to blame?
at the end of the day SOMEONE bred those dogs and it wasn’t us!
perhaps another way forward would be for there to be a “rescue accrediated scheme”,if people chose to take on a rescue dog then the Breed clubs would encourage them to go to Rescues who have been inspected and met a certain criteria?
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Well done K9 Magazine for bringing yet more ‘behind the scenes’ ‘shenaningans’ to light from the great and the good at the Kennel Club.
Almost laughed out loud at this if it was not such a serious subject:
The Kennel Club’s Holly Lee, responding to the issue of re-homing dogs said: “this was not her area of work, but she agreed that it needed looking at further.”
Where do all these ‘pedigree’ Rottweilers come from that end up being ‘rescued’ (this term needs clarification as even privately rehomed dogs seem to be termed ‘rescued’) Why can’t the KC not get invovled, they claim to be the ‘top dog’ when it comes to matters canine (see their website), so why not do something about all this?
Excellent idea from G Green about people buying dogs off breeders should have a home check before they take the dog on, why not also ban dogs sales through ‘free-ads’ newspaper adverts and such similar media?
There will always be people out there with something to sell and people willing to buy it (whatever it is) Why not look at the criteria for rehoming stray dogs via animal rescue centres, a lot of people do not use them because they know that they will be turned down because they work long hours etc, have children or may be too old. What do they do then to get a dog, they go to the free ad type papers or the internet.
If the Kennel Club wants to ‘get invovled’ with ‘all matters canine’, it could do no worse than deal with the issues of those irresponsible breeders who are profit driven. I know not all breeders are like this, but as in life, you get an irresponsible minority who spoil things for everyone else.
Also maybe the Kennel Club could divert some of its efforts and resources it uses to come into conflict woth local councils through KCDOG making itself out to be the dog owners champion to getting its own house in order and maybe providing some guidance to the world of pedigree dog breeders (of all breeds, is this too radical a thought?
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As an independent rescue I am dismayed & angered that anyone would put the blame on rescue organizations for rottweiler attacks or any dog attacks for that matter. I have been rescuing animals of all species & breeds for 20 years, in that time I have raised a 19 year old & now have a 3year old child who have been brought up along side the many different types of animals that have shared our home, including large so called aggressive type dogs. WE have had rottweilers, bull terriers of all varieties, dobermans, german shepherds & many other breeds & cross breeds many of which have come in with behavioral problems due to uneducated previous owners who may I add had in most cases purchased their dog from a breeder!!!! A breeder who never home checked before selling their wares, oh I mean living puppies to any Tom Dick or Harry with enough money in his pocket. Not all breeders are the same which also applies to Rescues & owners & most importantly DOGS. Before I home an animal what ever species I home check & if I don’t think the people are suitable I fail them & give them as much advise as i can as I know they will just go out & buy one. The only way forward is to neuter & put restrictions on breeding, Rescue societies are over run with unwanted dogs & it breaks our hearts to not be able to help them all & to know that many will end up dead having been put to sleep because they are classed as unsuitable, or they will just be given to a mate down the pub with a shed space free in his garden! We as humans took it upon our selves to tame & enslave wolves who lived free, now we as humans must protect these animals, our friends from dying in their masses because we owe them the loyalty they show us. Not point the finger of blame at fellow dog lovers but stand united to put a sensible law in place before we are rail roaded by the government & the media hype & have to watch as decent owners have their beloved family member killed by the authorities because its face doesn’t fit, this is what happened with the pitt bull ban so lets not let history repeat itself.
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Liesa, it is probably already too late, the people who advise the government have more than likely made their recommendations to them. When whatever legislation or amendments comes out start to go pear-shaped, note which dog related organisations start criticising it, they will more than likely have had a hand in it! The problem wih the government and its civil servants, is that they for some reason always take a lot of their advice from groups that have no real frontline invovlement with the problems that result in relation to dogs. Most of the advisor organisations will not have to deal with any ‘outlawed’ breeds, look at the RSPCA, they saved a dog that had been stabbed by its owner, what happened to the dog, because it was allegedly a Pit Bull type it was destroyed, how did that work out then to the bnefit of the dog? The RSPCA statement mentioned that it was against the law, so as well as being a charity that is devoted to animal welfare, they are right at the front in destorying Pit Bull types! When the Dangerous Dogs Act was first enforced, especially in London, RSPCA Inpectors were at the forefront in seizing suspect dogs with the Metropolitan Police. One disgusting photograph is of a Pit Bull type dog on the floor of its owners home, with a human bolt sticking out of its head, wonder hy the RSPCA did not use that image on any of its ‘we recieve no government funding’ TV commercials?
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Dear true dog lovers, I am a dog welfare officer for Jerry Green dog sanctuary at Blidworth in Nottinghamshire. Here at Blidworth Jerry Green’s before any dog goes to a new home i do a home check this includes fence’s which we like to be 5 to 6 feet in height, but for older and very small dogs 3 to 4 feet.if thats ok then i would give them a information sheet on how to look after and care for the dog etc. Before any dog goes out they are spayed or neutered. also the dog will have a ID collar tag made with its new owners post code and phone number on it, but i also advice them to get the dog microchipped as well. I do a recheck on the dog that as been rehomed 3 to 4 weeks after to see if the dog a settled in ok, and is being well loved and cared for. Ask if there is any problems and if yes i try to advice them. So you can see what we do, but it is never ending dogs coming in, we have a 3 month waiting list, because where always full.For the last 3 months i have been writing letters to my MP Mr G Hoon and others about the unwanted dog problem, but all i get back in reply is the govenment as no plans to change the laws on the breeding of dogs and microchipping. I have been looking at some of the dog breeders web sites and some of them makes me sick, as when a good faithfull bitch as had her 6 litters of pups ( by the law as it stands now )in her life time, if you can call that a life, this bitch was thrown on to the streets, and probley netted the breeder approx £10,500. and this is just for one of the breeders breeding bitches. I know some of these dogs will land up in some rescue centre. I would like it to be made law that a bitch can not start breeding untill they are 2 years old. instead of one year at the moment, also i would like to see it made law that a bitch can only have 3 litters in its life time, also i would like it to be made law that every dog must be microchipped, and give the dog wardens power to stop anyone with a dog on or off the lead to scan the dog to see if as been microchipped, so its not going to cost this govenment any money although stray dogs causing acidents on the roads and cleaning up after them costs approx thirty million every year.Dogstrust survey 2007 105,068 stray dogs in the UK, but what makes me sad and angry is that 7.892 dogs was put to sleep. and we call the dog our best friend what a joke. thankyou from frank & gizmo my rescue dog.
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I would just like to add that having 2 rescued Rottweilers comming from 2 rescues in Scotland one being Second Chance Kennals and the other being Fife Rottweiler Rescue both of which are run to a very high standard and a lot of people get turned down for their dogs as not suitable. The dogs are all assessed before they are matched up with their new family but what chance has the poor dog I saw in free adds on Fri. have.
It read 5 year old Rottweiler free to good home, good with children,dogs,cats and small furries. This is not a rescue dog but to me if it is this good WHY are they trying to give it away. Makes me so angry when the blame is placed at the wrong door.
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Mr Madin, you refer to the Dogs Trust Survey and you write that the number of dogs that are destroyed makes you sad and angry. What the Dogs Trust fails to point out is that the figure includes dogs that have been thrown out because they are either too ill and old, too aggressive or they just do not want them and they end up being run over and having to be put down. When you check out the true figures and take away aggressive dogs that it would be highly dangerous to rehome that have ended up being seized by the local council as well as the ill ones that the owner failed to take to the vets and have them put down then the number is not that high. People who throw their dogs away or leave them to be sorted out by others makes me sad and angry. Interestingly you write that your organisation puts the new owners post code and phone number on the dogs tag, are you aware that by law he tag should have the owners name and address on it, other things such as telelphone numbers are fine,butthe law states that the name and address of the owner should be on the tag.
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I have a rottweiller which I was lucky and experienced enough to receive from fife rottweiller rescue. This rescue carried out a most through assesement of both myself and the home environment into which the dog was being placed.As you will note from the above I am experienced in the caring and handling of large breed dogs, however it is unfortunate that this is not all ways the case. To many rottweillers are finding their way into the hands of inexperienced,careless and just downright stupid owners from whatever source. I would point out that these dogs are NOT bred by the rescues but find their way to them through know fault of their own. I find it deeply offensive to try and lay the blame for these attacks which have been highlighted in the media at the door of highly responsible and caring rescues Perhaps breeders should consider vetting prospective purchasers of their litters more throughly, while this might go so way to helping it will in know way solve the problem as the dogs which have been involved in the attacks were not puppies but in fact adult dogs bought as guard dogs and and so on perhaps it would be a good idea to limit the sources from which these dogs can be bought i.e. don,t permit ads in freead papers and so on, finally, I think it is about time that all concerned parties who are interested in the well being of our magnificent breed should stop laying the blame at the door of others and work together to the betterment of the rottweiller before the goverment and othe parties decide what should happen for us
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hmm, interesting views indeed. i agree that the rescue trusts can not be blamed and that responsible breeders and owners are the most important factors. i have had rottweilers for nearly 15yrs now and love the breed. however i have rescued two in the past, the first one was very old and just needed to see her time out comfortably, which she did and when the day came i was heartbroken but knew it was for the best. the second was a 2yr old male, very headstrong and possesive. i was told by the shelter that he was very loving and could be walked off the lead in parks safely, i was told that his background was very caring and his previous owner had died and the partner could not look after him, thats how he ended up in rescue. well i took him home and yes he was very loving and easy to live with, he could be walked off the lead in the park and he was well trained.i got the truth or so i thought…. in reality he had only ever had one owner, a man, who spoilt him terribly. letting him eat off plates and not discipplining him. in two months he bit me five times on the hand when i tried to take things off him (my mobile for example) i could put up with this as i thought that training would cure this but then he got nasty with my partner actually holding her in the kitchen growling. i considered handing him back but was talked out of it by the rottweiler rescue centre. the final straw came a week later when i got up to let him out in the morning and he rounded me and stood in the doorway snarling and showing his teeth, refusing to let me back in. i took the decision to destroy him as rehoming as far as i was concerned was out of the question, im happy i did the responsible thing but the back lash i suffered from the rescue centre and the breed welfare was rediculous. i would have to live with the knowledge that i put a dangerous animal back into society and i know i was so lucky he didnt attack me my family or anyone in the park on walks. what im getting at is this, no you cant blame the rewscue centers but they are not all whiter than white where rehoming is concerned and i feel that it should be made a statute that prospective new owners of rescued dogs, whatever the breed should be told the animals full history not just have thier boundary fences checked. if i had known this dogs true history i wouldnt havee accepted him in the first place. instead i had to destroy a beautiful and healthy animal for my saftey and his own good in the long run, at least it was done properly and not just shot like prey in the hunt
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Quote from the Mansfield chad newspaper. Microchip law plea. Sherwood MP Paddy Tipping has joined fores with a Blidworth animal lover to demand a change in the law on the micro-chipping and breeding of dogs. frank madin, volunteer dog welfare officer at jerry green dog sanctuary in blidworth has asked mr tipping to help his bid to protect dogs from being thrown onto the streets once they are too old tobe used for breeding.
frank say most abandoned dogs end up in rescue centres and ther is currently a three month waiting list for dogs to be taken in at the blidworth centre.
he told chad: “i want the law changing so that all dogs must be micro-chipped to enable dog wardens to trace them back to their owners if they are found straying and carry out randon checks.”
frank told chad that currently anyone can have up to five breeding dogs on their property without needing a licence.
but he hopes this will be reduced to stop breeders abandoning dogs once they have made money out of them.
following a visit to the sanctuary this week , mr tipping says he intends to talk to government ministers about possible legislative changes.
the law needs extending to give better protection to dogs said mr tipping. their is a stronge case for all dogs to be micro-chipped so that their identity and ownership can be quickly estabished.
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having read the statement made at a recent meeting of the rottweiller breeders club and the kennel club which stated, in the opimion of mr dave parrish (rottweller breeders club) that rescues were to blame for the recent and not so recent problems relating to the rottweiller breed reported in the national press I decided to do some research into these rescues. It would seem, like breeders, there are good and bad ones, and for want of a better term some run by “misguided people” whose aim would seem to be to rehome a dog. There is a great variance in the policies regarding the rehoming of dogs within these rescues, for instance some will neuter/spay and micro-chip the animal for rehoming, will carry out stringent assessement of the animal over a period of time, do a stringent home check and fully assess both dog and prospective new owner as to compatibility. These rescues also offer ongoing help and advice to the new owners when and if required In my opinion these rescues are doing an excellent service for the rottwelleir breed
Unfortunately, for whatever reasons, not all rescues offer all of the above but would seem to fall into what I would term the “misguided” whose sole purpose would seem to be the rehoming of rottweillers at any cost no matter what the resulting consequences may be, these rescues carry out little or none of the previously mentioned services
It would seem too that rescues are at a variance as to area/distance in which they operateI.E. one rescue will only rehome within a radius of 60 miles the reason given that they carry out on-going home checks etcto ensure the continued well being of the animals they have rehomed. This rescue which has been going for a number of years regarded last year as being a “bumper” one as they had rehomed 28 animals. Another rescue which advertises that it rehomes nationally and having broadly the same polices as the aforementioned rescuehas rehomed 100+ rottweillers in it,s first year, I can only wonder at the resources required to carry out such a feat given the stated policies of this rescue/charity.
In conclusion, I an only say that I have found good, bad, and one or two that are not worthy of the name rescue, perhaps the powers that be should be considering legislation for all animal rescues.
N.B. As regards the unfortunate occurence experienced by r price in his above post maybe he should name the rescue from which he rehomed this dog as a warning to other prospective rottweiller rehomers.
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I dont beleive that rescue centre’s are to blame for attacks they are only trying to do there best for the animals. If people could understand that rottweiler’s arent for everyone even thow they look cute and fluffy at 8 wks old they can get to up to 13 stone in weight and be very powerful. I have a female rottweiler and i have a lhasa apso my lhasa has to were a muzzle because he just doesn’t like anyone when he is outside but in the house he is so lovable but i wouldn’t leave him alone with anyone because he is so unpredictable. My point is that it doesnt matter what kind of dog you have they can all bite.
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