Queensland authorities want to get tough on owners of dangerous dogs with new laws that could see them jailed. The state could also become the first to completely ban some breeds.
Are they? Or are those just the ones that last long enough to be listed online? Smaller dogs are in higher demand and more popular breeds are adopted quicker. Foster owners sometimes pick these dogs up before they even become available to the public. What you see online is not reflective of the total amount of being surrendered to the RSPCA.
And even if we were to make the assumption that these breeds are surrendered in higher numbers, is that an indication of a problem with the animal? Or, rather, the type of person who is predisposed to owning one?
Possibly. Rightly or wrongly, there’s quite obviously a social stigma around these breeds that deters potential owners. And small dogs will always be more popular due to their relative affordability, perceived safety around small children and likelihood of being accepted by a landlord/strata group.
The stigma also plays in the opposite way - people who want a dog for defence are more likely to select one of these breeds. These owners are likely not as concerned with the emotional well being and/or safety of the animal. They’re more likely to surrender or abandon them for a replacement if the animal proves too difficult to manage or doesn’t live up to expectations.
I don’t know if these breeds have the potential to be safer, or if they should be banned (I would like to see detailed and peer reviewed research into these areas) but I do know there a lot of reasons why you see the dogs you do on the RSPCA adoption website.
Are they? Or are those just the ones that last long enough to be listed online? Smaller dogs are in higher demand and more popular breeds are adopted quicker. Foster owners sometimes pick these dogs up before they even become available to the public. What you see online is not reflective of the total amount of being surrendered to the RSPCA.
And even if we were to make the assumption that these breeds are surrendered in higher numbers, is that an indication of a problem with the animal? Or, rather, the type of person who is predisposed to owning one?
Hmmm. So you’re saying that there could be lots of other dogs that get adopted quickly and nobody wants these dogs
and/or
the original owners can’t/won’t take care of these dogs
Possibly. Rightly or wrongly, there’s quite obviously a social stigma around these breeds that deters potential owners. And small dogs will always be more popular due to their relative affordability, perceived safety around small children and likelihood of being accepted by a landlord/strata group.
The stigma also plays in the opposite way - people who want a dog for defence are more likely to select one of these breeds. These owners are likely not as concerned with the emotional well being and/or safety of the animal. They’re more likely to surrender or abandon them for a replacement if the animal proves too difficult to manage or doesn’t live up to expectations.
I don’t know if these breeds have the potential to be safer, or if they should be banned (I would like to see detailed and peer reviewed research into these areas) but I do know there a lot of reasons why you see the dogs you do on the RSPCA adoption website.