Tough new laws for 'fighting dogs'

07/12/05
New laws requiring American pit bulls and other restricted breeds of so-called 'fighting dogs' to be sterilised have been introduced in Western Australia.
Restricted breed dogs such as dogo Argentino, fila Brasileiro, Japanese tosa, Presa Canario and American pit bull are already banned by the Federal Government from importation into Australia.
Now the State Government has gone one step further by banning the breeding of these dangerous fighting dogs.
The regulations will also provide for the inclusion of mixed-breed dogs which visibly contain one of the restricted breeds 'traits'.
Announcing the new laws, Local Government and Regional Development Minister John Bowler said the new laws required an owner to prove to an authorised person that their dog met one of the following requirements:

• the dog has an ear tattoo showing that it has already been sterilised;
  

• the owner produces a certificate from a veterinary surgeon showing that the dog has been previously sterilised (or is recovering from treatment and would suffer if sterilised at that time, or has a condition which would cause the dog to die); or
• that the dog is under the age of 6 months.