Merseyside dog amnesty

[bunn]

I have just looked at  this PDF leaflet issued by Merseyside police about their  illegal dog amnesty.   It makes me angry.

 In particular, the description of 'how to identify an illegal dog' combined with 'who will decide a dog is illegal' and the advice to report dogs belonging to one's friends family and neighbours makes me want to march up and down ranting loudly.   I would like some non-dog-owner people to tell me if they think I am overreacting.

Comments

[king-pellinor.livejournal.com]

Your dogs appear to be illegal, by that description. Do you wish to turn them in before I inform your local police station?

The only useful bit to me is "short-haired" - the rest could apply to anything.

I think the "who will decide if it is illegal" bit is misleading. It is consistent with "the courts will" (which I think is the legally correct position), but implies that the police specialists will decide and the court is only an appeal body (which may actually be the practical position).

I think overall the leaflet is unhelpful and could very well be counter-productive. The police may spend a lot of time looking at poodles.

I think you're over-reacting, by the way, but only in as much as I think any reaction to something which exceeds my own is an over-reaction (and, conversely, anyone who doesn't get as excited as I do about say morris or pretty armour is under-reacting). "Over-reacting" is not an objective thing :-)

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Your dogs appear to be illegal, by that description. Do you wish to turn them in before I inform your local police station?

OK, now my hair is REALLY standing on end...

Speaking of things you care about in particular, have you seen this?

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/licensing/