Panorama BBC1 Unwanted Dogs

sligopark

Any one see this evening?

Posted it here previously
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055984288

Starkly pointed out the reality for staffies and bull breeds in the UK - AWFUL


Well pointed out by the reporter Tom Heap @ 7 mins in:

"what constitutes a banned breed.. [dog caresses his finger with its tongue] ..it certainly not temperament" as his enjoys the dogs kisses..

Other points:

• £950 for a blue staff pup :eek:
• Nice when the reporter continued with why when there are so many waiting to be rescued
• Of the 2815 Battersea pts 1931 were healthy but deemed to be a risk (aggressive) without any rehabilitation

The poor vet putting the dogs down - my heart broke - the result of too many dogs unwanted - why?

http://www.battersea.org.uk/dogs/index.html

boomerang

Didn't like how Pit Bulls were portrayed on the programme - surely the DDA goes part way to explain the proliferation of staffies, who fit the hard mens' image but aren't banned? Thought they glossed over the whole issue of breed-specific legislation.

I was horrified at how they deem which dogs are unrehomable but then they are working with dogs on such a scale there isn't time to rehab them all. But it's still horrific. My poor fear aggressive dog would be PTS for sure if she was handed in to Battersea. But she's had eight happy, safe years with me.

Westie_Owner

I know alot of the time pitbulls get alot of bad publicity but thats due to the owners not bringing them up in a correct manor. I hated the way the pitbull breed was used in this programme. Any dog on this planet if not properly brought up can do damage.

Zapperzy

Very sad programme but it is reality unfortunately. Very sad how that man comes in and says 'that one, that one, and that one are of pit bull type' which means automatic death, even though none of the dogs he pointed out as being of pit bull type showed any signs of aggression, they were just happy dogs bouncing around their cages.

Battersea's assesment of dogs is very strict, poor brandy yes showed signs of being a bit uncertain of other dogs but by no means was it all out aggression, given time he could have been rehabilitated and rehomed in a only dog home. But I guess the sad truth is, as another poster pointed out, with the volume of dogs coming in they don't have time to do this. If the dog had been any other breed would they have been so quick to pts him I wonder? My own dog by their standards would be a definate fail, he was a rescue who most likely was poorly socialised with dogs and is now fear aggressive towards dogs but perfect with people.

That vet did at one point look as though he was fighting back tears when talking about having to pts dogs. That would be a very hard job to do, I would cave in and bring them all home.

Overall a heart breaking programme but it showed the truth and hopefully opened a few people's eyes.

ISDW

Absolutely brilliant programme, but unfortunately it is dog lovers that will be affected by it, not the scum that pump out litter after litter or train their 'status dogs' to attack people or other dogs.

That poor vet, but thank goodness these dogs are killed by someone with empathy and it is quick and humane, although I don't know if killing dogs because humans don't want them anymore can really be called humane?

I gave my dogs an extra cuddle while I was watching it, my siberian Diesel wouldn't pass their dog aggression test, but we only saw one test, the dogs are given a week to be assessed. Battersea isn't the problem, they're just trying to deal with it.

boomerang

Zapperzy wrote: »

That vet did at one point look as though he was fighting back tears when talking about having to pts dogs.

I thought so too - his bottom lip was quivering. God love him.