Puerto Rico: Ban on pit bulls to be repealed

Translated with Google Translate, with edits for sense.
(Alert from BSL Workshops/Updates)-From StopBSL.com


The legalization of pitbulls advances

11/14/09



The College of Veterinarians welcomes the Legislature’s move to repeal the ban on the breed of dogs

By Pedro Bosque Pérez

The possession of pitbulls or dogs born from crosses with that race took a step toward legalization after the Legislature approved the repeal of Act 158 of 1998, which prohibits possession, importation and breeding the dogs of the breed Pitbull Terrier, their hybrids and crosses in Puerto Rico.

“At last we got these dogs equal with other races which may also be potentially dangerous,” said Dr. Victor Oppenheimer, past president of the College of Veterinarians of Puerto Rico.

“The ban and prosecution of a particular race is a biased and very wrong act that contradicts the laws in most states” in the U.S. and in European countries, the veterinarian said in a news release.

It is estimated that in Puerto Rico there are more than 50,000 pitbulls and more than 3,000 have been killed in the past two years – in compliance with Law 158 – according to the Veterinary Medical Association, which advocates equality among all breeds of dogs.

If the measure which passed the Legislature is signed into law by Gov. Luis Fortuño, several lawmakers are seeking to draft a bill that will define what is a potentially dangerous dog or dangerous, and make the owner of the dog liable in any incident.

The move to repeal Rule 158 was also supported by Pitbull Association of Puerto Rico.

The College of Veterinarians manages several projects for the welfare of animals in Puerto Rico and promotes a culture of responsible pet owners, according to the press release.

http://www.elnuevodia.com/avanzalalegalizaciondelospitbulls-637470.html