I got my August issue of Dog World and there is a spectacular aricle on the dog legislation in Germany. There's no way I can do the article justice so I recommend that anyone who owns a dog, regardless of breed, should read it because it is downright frightening.
Here'a a sampling:
"Quirky tests such as the following are proliferating in Germany's cities and states as local governments fail to adopt standardized temperament-testing criteria. WARNING: Failing this one can be lethal for your pet!
Let's say your dog is the typical, friendly family pet: purchased as a puppy, neutered at 10 months, licensed and microchipped. His vaccinations are up to date, and you carry liability insurance, not because you don't trust your dog but because, well, you never know about chance encounters of the unfriendly kind.
He's not fond of strange dogs, but then, how many dogs are? Overall, he's a gentle soul- even your landlord loves him. He gets along so well with your three children that all their friends want to play at your house. When they're not around, he plays with his friend the guinea pig, cleaning it fastidiously.
Suddenly you're notified that the laws have changed and your dog must promptly appear and pass this temperament test or be confiscated and euthanized immediately. There is no appeal! But you're not worried- in fact, it seems a ludicrous request to make of such an even-tempered dog. But how well would your dog do?
1. Your dog is pulled by police from your vehicle, unmuzzled and confronted by another dog. You've already told the police that he doesn't like other dogs but this test seems of vital importance to them.
2. He is led to a police car, where three German shepherds inside a cage are barking fiercely. Your dog is ordered to stand up against the cage.
3. You and your dog are told to stand on the side of the street, very still, so your dog could be hit with a police nightstick, once on the rear and once or twice on the head, The officer also pushes the dog around with his legs. This abuse, combined with the attentions of bikers and passers-by, likewise are supposed to provoke no reaction from the dog.
Outrageous, cruel, but if the government forced your dog into this situation he'd pass- right?
Eight-year-old Baxter, a family pet in Weisbaden, Germany, did not. He was given an on-the-spot evaluation declaring that although he showed "extraordinarily exemplary behavior towards people," he "displays...conspicuous, aggrssive behavior towards other dogs...we therefore have to categorize him as dangerous [because] one would have to reckon with Baxter escaping out the door one day and attacking other dogs," which he'd never done in all his eight years.
The family was forced to leave Baxter, who'd never been alone in his life, tied to a fence in a situation in which confiscation meant immediate euthanization. His crime? Although he remained friendly with humans, he defended himself against aggressive dogs, a violation of the German government's decree that any display of aggression toward any being at any time for any reason renders a dog dangerous, unreliable amnd unsuitable for integration into society.
Baxter's grieving family tries to cope with their loss. Marvin, 10, sleeps with Baxter's leash, and Selina, 14, takes his blanket to bed with her. Nadine, 17, falls asleep clutching Baxter's collar. The world is now safe from Baxter."
The test and incident were taken from p. 44 of the August 2001 issue of Dog World and were written by Elizabeth Crosby Simpson.
Here'a a sampling:
"Quirky tests such as the following are proliferating in Germany's cities and states as local governments fail to adopt standardized temperament-testing criteria. WARNING: Failing this one can be lethal for your pet!
Let's say your dog is the typical, friendly family pet: purchased as a puppy, neutered at 10 months, licensed and microchipped. His vaccinations are up to date, and you carry liability insurance, not because you don't trust your dog but because, well, you never know about chance encounters of the unfriendly kind.
He's not fond of strange dogs, but then, how many dogs are? Overall, he's a gentle soul- even your landlord loves him. He gets along so well with your three children that all their friends want to play at your house. When they're not around, he plays with his friend the guinea pig, cleaning it fastidiously.
Suddenly you're notified that the laws have changed and your dog must promptly appear and pass this temperament test or be confiscated and euthanized immediately. There is no appeal! But you're not worried- in fact, it seems a ludicrous request to make of such an even-tempered dog. But how well would your dog do?
1. Your dog is pulled by police from your vehicle, unmuzzled and confronted by another dog. You've already told the police that he doesn't like other dogs but this test seems of vital importance to them.
2. He is led to a police car, where three German shepherds inside a cage are barking fiercely. Your dog is ordered to stand up against the cage.
3. You and your dog are told to stand on the side of the street, very still, so your dog could be hit with a police nightstick, once on the rear and once or twice on the head, The officer also pushes the dog around with his legs. This abuse, combined with the attentions of bikers and passers-by, likewise are supposed to provoke no reaction from the dog.
Outrageous, cruel, but if the government forced your dog into this situation he'd pass- right?
Eight-year-old Baxter, a family pet in Weisbaden, Germany, did not. He was given an on-the-spot evaluation declaring that although he showed "extraordinarily exemplary behavior towards people," he "displays...conspicuous, aggrssive behavior towards other dogs...we therefore have to categorize him as dangerous [because] one would have to reckon with Baxter escaping out the door one day and attacking other dogs," which he'd never done in all his eight years.
The family was forced to leave Baxter, who'd never been alone in his life, tied to a fence in a situation in which confiscation meant immediate euthanization. His crime? Although he remained friendly with humans, he defended himself against aggressive dogs, a violation of the German government's decree that any display of aggression toward any being at any time for any reason renders a dog dangerous, unreliable amnd unsuitable for integration into society.
Baxter's grieving family tries to cope with their loss. Marvin, 10, sleeps with Baxter's leash, and Selina, 14, takes his blanket to bed with her. Nadine, 17, falls asleep clutching Baxter's collar. The world is now safe from Baxter."
The test and incident were taken from p. 44 of the August 2001 issue of Dog World and were written by Elizabeth Crosby Simpson.
