Breed Specific legislation has become a BIG concern for many owners/breeders and
lovers of the Bully breeds.
Breed Specific Legislation is the banning of certain breeds of dogs based on appearance,
ignorance and lack of knowledge.
Many breeds have been targeted because of irresponsible owners and irreputable
breeders who have maligned and damaged the reputation, correctness and quality of a said breed!
The American Staffordshire Terrier has become the target as of late. The
City of Edmonton has deemed the breed to be "DANGEROUS"!
Though many breeders and owners of this beloved breed have protested this Dog
Bylaw..........the Amstaff has been added to the RESTRICTED LIST!
Being on the RESTRICTED LIST means that you must have a liability insurance in
place to the tune of .....not less than..a MILLION DOLLARS. The dog must be muzzled and on leash not more than two meters
in length when off its property at all times. The dog must be kept indoors or in a secure enclosure or chained on the
property a fair distance away from the property line.
HOWEVER, the CKC(Canadian Kennel Club) REGISTERED Amstaff or those dogs
eligible for CKC registration are exempt from this bylaw....and ONLY those UNREGISTERED amstaffs will be licenced under
the RESTRICTED LIST. Licencing fees for a RESTRICTED dog is $200.00 as per the Dog Bylaw #13145.
UNREGISTERED AMSTAFFS are usually bought
from Petstores, Back yard breeders, Puppy mills or Dog brokers.
BEWARE the so-called-breeder who wants to breed and sell puppies for profit,
ONLY breeds BECAUSE someone told them their dog is a good specimen of the breed or BECAUSE its cute, breeds BECAUSE
they read that you had to breed a bitch on her second season(heat)or to calm and mature an otherwise nervous bitch or
to show their children how WONDERFUL it it experiencing the birth of puppies!
These are NOT good or responsible reasons for breeding!
Many reputable and responsible breeders will and should have CKC(Canadian
Kennel Club) registered dogs who are health certified through proper genetic testing. This includes being CLEAR of Hip
Dysplasia, thyroid and heart problems, eye diseases and epilepsy.
Registrations should be checked and Pedigrees outlined as to the parentage and
heritage of the dogs being bred!
Most Breeders will issue contracts for the new puppy buyers with an outline of
what is expected of the new owner, health and registration guarantees and the treatment and raising of the puppy.
They ONLY reason to breed is to add and improve on the gene pool the BEST
qualites of the breed-being soundness of structure, correct movement and stablity of temperment!
Quality begets quality!
FOR THE LOVE AND LONGEVITY OF THE AMSTAFF
Shelley Sjursen
