Feb
Swiss Set to Introduce Breed Bans and Dangerous Dog Regulation
The people of Geneva in Switzerland are about to be given some new dog legislation. The Geneva dangerous dog laws are set to be adopted by other regions in Switzerland soon as well.
Voters in Geneva have ushered in new dog control laws which bans ‘dangerous’ dogs and requires owners whose dogs are heavier than 25kg to have a permit which allows them to walk their pets in public.
Although Geneva is a canton of dog lovers – 32,000 dogs live on its territory of less than 250 square kilometres – about 65 per cent of voters came out in support of stricter rules. These follow tighter controls on the ownership of dogs passed in June 2007.
Cathy Maret, spokesperson for the Federal Veterinary Office, is convinced of the significance of the Geneva vote.
“It’s the first time there has been a popular vote to ban certain breeds of dogs; and it’s a clear signal by canton Geneva,” Maret told swissinfo.
Dangerous dogs have been under the spotlight in Switzerland after the horrific death of a six-year-old boy killed by pit bull terriers in November 2005 in a small town near Zurich.
Bans on dangerous dogs have already been imposed in cantons Valais and Fribourg and are under discussion in several other cantons, but so far there have been no specific nationwide laws on the issue.
Geneva leadsWhile other cantons have been rather slow to react mainly due to political inertia, the Geneva population, prompted by several serious mauling incidents, has forced its politicians to lead the way.
Under the new measures, considered as “complementary” to the current tough regime in Geneva, 12 dangerous dog breeds will be banned and owners whose dogs weigh more 25kg will need a permit to walk them in public.
The existing law already requires all dog owners to follow a complete obedience course with their animal, and people who walk dogs for other people to hold a licence.
Owners of dangerous dogs must also hold a licence, prove they have completed a dog-training course and that the animal comes from an approved breeder. It is strictly illegal to breed or cross fighting dogs, and just one dog of a dangerous breed is allowed per household. Dangerous dogs also have to wear a muzzle in public spaces.
Since June 2007, the number of dangerous dogs in the canton has fallen from 900 to 660.
But Verena Ammann, spokeswoman for the Swiss Canine Association, felt tougher cantonal laws on dangerous dogs such as those in Geneva were unfair to the ordinary dog owner.
“We know that it’s not the breeds, but individual dogs that are dangerous. All these restrictions hit ordinary dog owners without giving more security to society,” she told swissinfo.
“Dialogue of the deaf”Yet overall, compared with France, Italy, Germany and Britain, Swiss legislation on dangerous dogs is considered to be among the least restrictive in Europe.
“Switzerland is certainly not top of the class,” admitted Maret.
Looked at more widely, the dangerous dogs issue is more like a “dialogue of the deaf” between the population who want more restrictive measures and the response provided by the vets and dog-lovers, she said.
“My impression is that if we voted to ban [dangerous] dogs in Switzerland today, there is a high chance that it would pass,” she added.
In December 2005 the tabloid newspaper Blick launched a petition to ban pit bulls, collecting more than 175,000 signatures.
At the federal level, following the 2005 fatal pitbull attack, parliament debated measures to protect the population and called on the government to strengthen federal legislation.
A parliamentary commission was set up and is currently finalising a draft law on dangerous dogs.
Although the cantons are moving faster than the Swiss parliament, Maret believes there is a political willingness to find a federal solution to the dangerous dog debate in the coming months.
And with that, yet another country fails to learn the lessons of history. Breed specific legislation does not prevent or reduce dog attacks. It sends out the wrong message to owners, the wrong message to the general public and is widely recognised to be a cause of dangerous dog confusion rather than cure. Some day soon, a legislator somewhere will get it RIGHT on dog control orders. Sadly, Geneva is not going to be the one.
What can you expect from a country that makes cuckoo clocks, they are now in cloud cuckcoo land as well with this legisaltion!
Nice to read that by this legislation, the symbol of switzerland, the St Bernard will have to be taken out for a walk only with a permit!
honeslty wtf, now loads of people arent going to excersise their dogs