Dangerous Breeds of Dogs to Be Outlawed

The new regulations on banning the buying and selling of dangerous breeds of dogs primarily cites the ban on breeding of Pit Bull Terriers.

ZAGREB, CROATIA - The Regulation on dangerous breeds of dogs, suggested by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fishery and Rural Development, envisages the categorising of every dog that ever attacked a person or another dog as “a dangerous dog”. Also, all dogs bread for dog fights or were caught in an organised fight, as well as Pit Bull Terriers and their mixed breeds, will be included on the list, the Vecernji list daily reports.

According to the new regulation, a veterinary inspector will determine whether a dog is dangerous and if a dog is found dangerous, it will have to undergo neutering within 14 days and have a chip implanted. The regulation envisages euthanasia only if the dog kills a person. Exceptions are Pit Bulls that have already been pronounced dangerous and the deadline for their neutering is January 1, 2009.

Selling, buying, giving away, exhibiting, promoting, entering in contests or exhibitions or advertising dangerous breeds will also be banned.

The secretary of the Croatian dog breeding federation, Bojan Matakovic, told Vecernji list that the regulation was still being discussed and changes to it were still possible.