Chris Packham is backing the Mirror’s dog campaign to crack down on irresponsible breeding.
The TV star supports our drive for an overhaul of the Dangerous Dogs Act with tougher penalties. And he agreed there should be a public information campaign to promote the importance of responsible dog ownership.
He said: “It’s a key thing to stop the illegal breeding and selling of dogs. Irresponsible breeders are choosing them for strength and aggression. What do you need an aggressive dog for? I think we have to really stress here, it’s not a dog issue, it is a people issue. And so why are we allowing people to keep fighting dogs?”
Danger Dogs – our demands
The Mirror is calling for these changes:
1. The overhaul of the Dangerous Dogs Act . An urgent review of the law is needed and tougher penalties should be considered.
2. Enforce the rules to stop the illegal and irresponsible breeding and selling of dogs.
3. A public information campaign to promote the importance of responsible dog ownership and the need for training.
He said any public information campaign needed to be funded by the powers that be. He said: “If the Government are taking sufficient issue to want to ban a breed they should take sufficient interest in how to deal with dogs. I am out with the poodles, Nancy is a bit slow in coming forward to people, just timid.
“If people just come out and reach straight down to stroke her, she won’t bite them, she’ll strain at the leash to get away. People should be told, ‘You need to introduce yourself to a dog, you don’t just go and jump on it. You walk up, you confront it, you bend down, you ask the owner if it’s appropriate to approach the dog and then ask if it’s OK to stroke it.’”
Do you think American XL bully dogs should be banned? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
Chris also said that he didn’t think that an XL Bully ban would solve the problem as hoped. He said: “I think there are plenty of other aggressive dogs of all breeds that basically have poor ownership and poor care and welfare and there is an equal likelihood that they will bite people.”
Chris is fronting new documentary Is It Time to Break the Law? on Channel 4, which explores the ethics behind climate protests.
Greta Thunberg features and Chris said of her: “Greta’s take on it is brilliant. That you do need non-violent direct action but it should be focused on more specific targets so rather than stopping the man or woman in the street you should focus on oil installations.”
- Is It Time to Break the Law? is on Channel 4 tomorrow at 9pm.
