Barnett, who previously worked as a Warwickshire police legislative officer, also stressed the announcement of a blanket breed prohibition constitutes a “knee-jerk reaction.”
It is his view that the UK would achieve a better outcome by figuring out ways of facilitating accountable ownership of these dogs, along with licensing and breeding regulations.
Animal Behaviour Kent consultancy director Daniel Shaw also shared similar thoughts. Shaw pointed out that despite Britain’s 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, the longstanding law hasn’t led to a decline in dog bites over the past two decades.
The consultancy director furthermore feels the UK should prepare for many residents to fight this ban in the courts.
Like Barnett and Shaw, former Met police dog handler Jeffrey Turner feels Britain is playing fast and loose with a breed ban. Turner, who also works as an accessor of dangerous dogs, believes XL bully owners who are the least accountable for their pets will also be the least inclined to abide by the nation’s prohibition.
