Thousands sign pro-Staffie petition after call for dog breed to be banned

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has demanded that Staffies be added to list of species prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act, saying they are often abused and abandoned.

It says the best way to end the abuse is to stop people breeding the animals – but their call has been met with mass public opposition.

A petition urging the Government to reject the calls has attracted more than 160,000 signatures, with the highest number of signatures in the country coming from Cannock Chase and Stafford.

Across the county more than 3,000 people signed the petition, which was debated by the Petitions Committee in Westminster Hall on Monday.

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Warley MP John Spellar and Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy were among those to speak out in defence of Staffies.

Labour MP Mr Spellar accused PETA of attempting to 'blacken the name' of Staffies.

"It is absurd that this organisation is trying to ban them, rather than deal with the vicious owners and those who get involved in dog fighting," he said

"That should be the priority – not damning a breed that is so appreciated by so many in the West Midlands."

Both MPs were praised by committee chair Helen Jones for giving a 'sterling defence' of Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

Mr Lefroy said 'the Staffie holds a special place in people’s hearts' and that a positive view of the dog was 'widely held'.

"It would be a terrible tragedy for the dog-lovers of the UK to lose the right to own one of the great companions," he said.

'Loving, loyal, caring'

The petition was set up by Steven Quinn, who said: "Many people in the UK today have the pleasure of owning a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

"As one of these people I can recommend them as being loving, loyal and caring, far from dangerous they are great companions.

"It would be a terrible tragedy for the dog lovers of the UK to lose the right to own one of these great companions.

"We are calling on Parliament to save our Staffies and not have them banned as dangerous dogs, because they are not.

"People create dangerous dogs, people are the problem."

Abandoned

The Dangerous Dogs Act covers the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasilerio and makes it illegal to own any of the dogs without a special exemption from a court – with the breeding, sale and exchange of the dogs, and cross-breeds, also banned.

A statement on the PETA website says: "Staffies are currently flooding UK animal shelters and have become by far the most commonly abandoned breed of dog in the country.

"They’re also one of the most abused – in fact, the RSPCA has confirmed that 80 per cent of its cruelty-to-animals prosecutions concern Staffies.

"The breed is also the most likely to be abducted and used by criminal gangs for fighting rings or as guard dogs.

"Given how vulnerable these dogs are to abuse, neglect, and abandonment, why would anyone fight the introduction of legislation that would prevent people from bringing more of them into a world that treats many so cruelly?"

The statement adds the group aren't calling for Staffies to be removed from 'loving homes' and that any legislation should allow spayed or neutered dogs to remain in their homes for the rest of their lives provided they are well cared for.

The Government says it currently has no plans to add Staffies to the Dangerous Dogs Act.