Dr Adam Campbell from Altona Vet Clinic with Tink. 71533 Picture: NICOLE SULTANA
By Vanessa Chircop
VETERINARY clinics are being inundated by pet owners eager to prove their dogs are not dangerous.
Following the tragic death of four-year-old Ayen Chol and the new dog ownership laws that followed, many dog owners in Hobsons Bay fear their dogs might be mistaken by neighbours and the council as a pitbull.
The new legislation introduced last month will see unregistered pitbulls seized and destroyed.
Many residents unsure about the breed are choosing to get their dogs DNA tested to find out what breed they are.
Altona Vet Clinic’s Dr Rod Sharpin said they had performed more than a dozen DNA tests on dogs since the new law came into play.
“Most of our clients that are coming in, may have dogs that could be considered of mistakenly identified as a pitbull,” he said.
Dr Sharpin said before the new law came in to effect they had barely performed any DNA tests on dogs.
“This test is aimed at trying to give the owners some piece of mind to confidently go to the council and know the breed of their dog.
“We can rule the dog out of being a pitbull but we can’t actually identify a pitbull,” he said.
“A pitbull has a number of genetic markers made up of a number of different breeds – so we can rule out pitbull but we can’t say that it is.”
Dr Sharpin said the test can never be used in a legal situation but was meant to add a little weight to a pet owner’s belief that their dog is not a restricted breed.
“A staffy (staffordshire terrier) or American Staffy is often confused for a pitbull,” he said.
Dr Sharpin said these breeds can be identified by the test so the owner can confidently say their dog is a Staffy or a Boxer etc…”
The Altona Vet said the situation was confusing but was not confident that the new laws would have the desired effect.
“I’m feeling sorry for everybody at the moment,” he said.
“My honest opinion is I don’t think they will really achieve a lot … and a lot of nice dogs may be put down because of it.”
Dr Sharpin said pet owners should not have any problems as long as their dog is registered, de-sexed and microchipped.
