On behalf of the PBFSA board and management team we would like to extend our thanks to every media outlet who has reached out, every pit bull owner and concerned member of the public and then to our two spokes ladies who have thrown everything they have at this fight. They have given up having a normal life for over a month and they have done this without ever hesitating, without you all realising it, they spoke for your dogs and for that they deserve an applause. Their professional, rational and calm conduct really made us proud. But these ladies are tired now and we are stepping in to say, they need a break and we need to focus on our next steps forward Where we stand now is we are making head way. We understand your fears, your concerns and your impatience, and now we have to step out of the spotlight and now work together with those we are consulting with to now put a goal plan together and iron out a few things. We will conclude every interview booked until Sunday afternoon. After this we will not do more as we cannot say more than we have already. Should there be requests we ask that you mail management@pbfsa.co.za With such sensitive issues where lives both human and dog are on the line, it is always a fine line between public awareness and a media spectacle. A media spectacle eventually burns out and the public loses interest. We cannot afford for this to happen. We caution other organisations not to become distracted by the lights and cameras, and to focus now on the hard work ahead. We are now going to be going into talks and consulting with those who have joined our fight, and as new information or breakthroughs happen we will update. For now we ask that you familiarise yourselves with every podcast, post and news article. We ask that you do some introspection as pit bull owners, and you become the owner who can be used as an example. Folks step off of social media. Go love your dogs, take the time to research what we have stated about temperament, about responsible ownership. Identify where you could better yourself as a pit bull owner. We will speak to you all soon. And just know we are doing all we can so that you can keep your dogs, but we need you to step up.

Over the last few days chaos has taken over, largely fueled by sensationalist dangerous media article headlines and fire fueling hearsay fed to you all by those who seek drama and outrage at the expense of anyone who will react with them. The PBFSA would like to clear up any misconceptions and relieve the anxiety you all feel. So what next? The future of the pit bull hinges on how we all proceed.

Did you know the PBFSA has kept record of registered dogs, their owners, in case of imported dogs where they were imported from and who imported these dogs. For 32 years we have kept hard copies and we have owned and run a database. These dogs were dogs who were shown at PBFSA or who showed and were bred before the PBFSA and Pit Bull Union became two seperate entities. We have always added to, updated and maintained this database. When we brought the open class in, unregistered pit bulls were added. We liaise with the registration bodies in SA when our system flags a pedigree. All information remains confidential. The database and record has always been there. Our calls for the survey recently serves a valuable purpose. The PBFSA is currently working on a game plan to counter a ban, and every step has to have verifiable information. We thank you for your patience.

One of the things we say in our interviews is that 77% of dog bites come from the family dog or a dog known to the victim. Follow the link below and do the tests. Make the changes. And lets begin to protect kids and save lives. Website:https://www.thefamilydog.com/ ARE YOUR KIDS & DOG SAFE? It’s hard to believe that 77% of dog bites come from a family or friend’s dog. That means that these aren’t crazy, stray, vicious dogs – they are OUR pet dogs! While this is a really sad statistic, it does mean that WE can do something to CHANGE IT. Contrary to popular belief, bites RARELY happen out of the blue — and your kids’ actions can play a HUGE role in how safe they are around the dogs they love and live with. All too often, it’s simply miscommunication.  We expect dogs to read our likes and dislikes — but often have no idea how to read theirs. Success is ALL about education — so are you ready for a FUN way for the whole family to learn!?

The owners who surrendered their dogs were owners who could no longer cope, who felt they could no longer meet their dogs needs or their dogs were problematic. We commend them for not giving them away and for not risking lives. Read the Eyewitness News report!

We thank and commend Friend of the Rottweiler Rescue and Re-home South Africa for this post. This is what responsible and ethical rescue looks like folks. Honest, ethical rescuers do not set the public up for tragedy and they do not set dogs up to fail. They accept that there are dogs who cannot be saved and they do what is right regardless of how hard it is. See the post on FB: Friend of the Rottweiler Rescue & Re-home South Africa – 16 November 2022 – 16 November 2022 Friend of the Rottweiler Rescue & Re-home South Africa – 16 November 2022 In the past few days the Pitbull has made headlines for an attack on a child, we as the Rottweiler breed have had our share of public incidents this year too. Our thoughts go out to every victim and their families. Like in humans a dog is a product of both genetics and their environment. We can never ignore a dog’s genetic make up. A family can do everything they can for their dog and still have a dog who is unsafe. A dog’s genetics is not that of the breed – each litter is unique and litter mates can vastly differ. We will always, always advocate for responsible ownership. That does not only mean high walls, double gates and strict management systems if your dog is unfriendly to strangers. It can include tough and difficult choices of euthenasing unsafe, unmanageable dogs humanely. It can also include lengthily but ethical behaviour modification, extended training and support through medications. And surely it means stepping back, noticing the plight of a breed and not adding to the rising problem of over population. There is a very, very small “need” for ethical breeders to “preserve” a breed, I promise just because you own two of them does not make you the capable. And right now there is no shortage of Pitbull’s and Rottweilers. For us, it will never be how you raise them – it is what humans must and should do in the very best interest of their dog and breed they love so much. Friend of the Rottweiler Rescue & Re-home South Africa FB page

What about if my dog bites an intruder? We keep being asked this when we share information about the law. Please see the following excerpt, we hope this clarifies things: “In 2020, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) handed down a judgement that had major implications on the rights and responsibilities of dog owners in South Africa.” “People are entitled to walk our streets without having to fear being attacked by dogs and, where such attacks occur, they should in most circumstances be able to look to the owner of the dog for recompense.” Said the Court. In its ruling, the SCA said that there are three recognized defences for dog attacks: “Attacks outside the aforementioned circumstances will result in the owner being held strictly liable.”

Over the last 2 days our emails have been flooded with emails from the public and the following information needs to be shared. 1.The “call to hand over pit bulls by SPCA” This headline was sensationalism at its very best and reckless. Both Bloemfontein and Virginia SPCA raised their hands to assist owners who are battling with dogs who show dangerous behaviour or who they no longer can cope with. These SPCAs are NOT REMOVING WELL LOVED, CARED FOR, RESPONSIBLY OWNED DOGS! They are offering to assist those who need help and do not know where to turn. We thank and commend them! And we urge owners to stop becoming hysterical without reading all the facts. IF YOU NEED HELP REACH OUT TO SPCA. BUT NOBODY IS DEMANDING YOUR LOVED SAFE DOG. 2.Calls by private shelters to gather people to go remove dogs who they have “heard are dangerous”. This is not legal. A dog may only be removed, with a warrant, by law enforcement. Nobody may remove your dog if it has not caused damage, is not running stray, is safely contained in your yard. IF YOU WANT TO SURRENDER YOUR DOG WE ADVISE ONLY SURRENDERING YOUR DOG TO THE SPCA AND MAKE SURE YOU GET PROOF OF EUTHANASIA. IT IS NOT ILLEGAL TO OWN A PIT BULL. UNLESS YOU AND YOUR DOG HAVE BROKEN THE LAW YOU MAY KEEP YOUR DOG. 3. Folks we cannot remove problem dogs. If a dog has not escaped, has not attacked anyone, is not being abused, is safely contained in its yard you cannot demand that it is removed. If the dog is escaping, is entering your yard, has bitten someone, has attacked another animal then you have every right to have law enforcement act. We caution you however to not lay false complaints as it is a criminal offense. IT IS NOT ILLEGAL TO OWN A PIT BULL. Again we request that you take the time to: We have taken note of all the questions and when information becomes available we will share.

As we have been saying repeatedly, the law is very clear on this matter, the problem is those tasked with enforcing municipal bylaws, the Animals Matters Amendment act and other laws around dog attacks have chosen not to. However there are no IFS, BUTS, WHAT ABOUTS. Read the article, and start stepping up and start taking responsibility. Read the full article.

”There has been an outpouring of emotions after an 8 year young child was mauled to death by a Pit Bull Dog. Rightly so. We would like to send our sincere condolences to the parents and loved ones of the child. This tragedy should not have happened. Responsible Pet Ownership is Vital! If your dog suddenly acts aggressive and attacks a family member, please be that responsible person and call us. A dog may suddenly display human aggressive behaviour without being mistreated or abused. The pressing issue is that we cannot have human aggressive dogs as pets. Human lives do come first and if you have a dog that displays dangerous behaviour towards humans you have to us on 079 776 1153 or 0761144788 and surrender your dog. We are not judging, we are offering assistance. If you need assistance with a dog who is showing human directed aggression, please do not harm the dog, do not sell the dog, do not rehome or give the dog away. Please 079 776 1153 we will assist you in a responsible and dignified manner. Dogs, in fact all pets, have to be safely secured at their homes, yet still free to move around naturally within the property and home. Unnecessary confinement that prevents an animal to move freely within your property is unhealthy for your pet and can cause mental disorders. Exactly as a human would in unnatural confinement with lack of enough room to freely move around. When you decide to make a pet part of your family adopt from your local SPCA or a responsible shelter. Avoid breeders that irresponsibly breed animals, especially power breed dogs. An aggressive dog is not your answer to protection. That is what security companies and alarm systems are for. However, a loved dog, carefully chosen and adopted to suit your family, will naturally warn you if intruders enter your property. Dogs that sleep inside, are loving to their families and people, and will make alarm long before the intruders enter your home. Dogs on chains are subjected to all sorts of danger. Poisoning, attacks from other dogs and the elements of nature. More importantly, they develop deep emotional and mental damage, and once off a chain, or escaped from confinement, may behave in a questionable and dangerous manner. Not all dogs are human aggressive. Choose wisely when you decide to take in a dog as part of your family. Dogs also want life. They too want to be protected and loved. Make sure you give your dog what they desire, the same as what you desire. If you feel that you need an aggressive dog for whatever purpose, then know that dog will pose a danger to you, your family and the community you live in. You can and will be prosecuted if your dog attacks any person on another property, in the street, and even your own property, unless such a person entered without warning and permission. We would like to extend a helping hand by letting you know that if you have a dog that you are afraid of, and fear may bite or maul you, your family or any person in your community, then please, call us. Surrender your dog, if you fear he or she may pose a danger, and no questions asked. We will collect your dog if you cannot bring to us. All dogs deserve love. All humans deserve love. Children need protection. We all have a responsibility. Let’s teach our children to respect our pets, and let’s look after the dog we took in. We cannot keep dogs as pets that are human directed aggressive. Society cannot allow dogs to maul and kill children or any other person of a family or a community. We serve in Virginia, Hennenman, Theunissen, Ventersburg and Winburg. 079 776 1153 if you no longer want your dog, fear your dog, or need to surrender any pet. Animals, regardless of whether they crossed the line, deserve dignity just like humans. Let us help.” Link to full article.