NEW BREED-SPECIFIC laws unveiled in Norway are proposing the ban the Staffordshire Bull Terrier as a ‘dangerous breed’ of dog. The Norwegian justice department released the draft of the proposed ‘enhance’ Dangerous Dogs law on March 28th. The draft law calls for the ban of the American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, whilst giving the Justice Department the power to ban any other dog breed that they choose at any time.

According to the European arm of WAF (the Washington Animal Foundation) this means that breeds touted as ‘dangerous’ but the Norwegian authorities, such as the Presa Canario, Cane Corso, American Bulldog, Neapolitan Mastiff, Boer Boel, and the Bull Terrier, can be banned at a future date.

The new law had originally included Bull Terriers, but the various Bull Terrier breed clubs around the world, united with the Norwegian Kennel Club and launched a powerful lobby against the breed’s inclusion. Sadly, the Norwegian authorities decided simply to follow the German Government’s definition of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier as a ‘dangerous breed’, been though the breed has been responsible for very few, if any, biting incidents in either country.

However, anti-BSL campaigners and breed clubs around the world are opposing the new law, whilst the Norwegian Kennel Club now has launched an online petition that people can sign to protest the proposed ban against the Amstaff and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

The Norwegian Kennel Club’s anti-BSL petition can be found at:
http://www.retrieverklubben.no/hlov_opprop.htm