(Updated 5/4/01)

Dutch Parliament says no to dangerous dogs ban

IT WAS quite a shock when the Minister of Agriculture in Holland decided late last year that notwithstanding the promise of his predecessor he announced a ban of four breeds of dogs, i.e. American Staffordshire Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and Mastino Napoletano.

But the united efforts of the Dutch Kennel Club, RSPCA and supporters of these four breeds in the past months have not been without success in a debate on March 14 Parliament gave no support to Ministerial plans and suggested instead a watertight identification system, whereby an owner of a dangerous dog could be simply and quickly traced, along with stricter breeding rules which may include a temperament test.