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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

FB friend of friend selling Pit Bull puppies?!

79 replies

snash12 · 07/12/2017 16:46

AIBU or are these dogs totally illegal in UK?

A friend on FB came up on my feed because she "liked" her friends post selling pit bull puppies for £250 each.

WIBU to report this? I mean to the police rather than FB.

OP posts:
mustbemad17 · 07/12/2017 17:33

My seized ambull cross was a wimp. He was terrified shitless of smaller dogs, but would play for hours with medium or large dogs. The bastard that reported him had a chip on their shoulder about me, and my dog paid the price. Dogs should be treated like people, judged on their behaviour not how they look. And laws need to be tighter so that owners are the ones in trouble not the dogs

CaptainBrickbeard · 07/12/2017 17:34

I think you'll survive the chihuahua attack though...

must, a couple of people on here did berate me but most were hugely supportive in a very difficult situation. Any dog can be aggressive, I agree, and the legislation is flawed but the thought of big strong dogs in the hands of ignorant and dangerous people is terrifying. It is the owners that should be punished (my neighbours suffered no consequences beyond the loss of their dog) and we should change things but as the law stands, I think the OP has a duty to report this.

mustbemad17 · 07/12/2017 17:34

Lots of huge generalisations flying around. Whilst I hate FB selling with a passion, many people I know have bought their dogs from there. All safe, happy, healthy family pets. In fact two FB bought bull breeds are now registered PAT dogs. Go figure

Auvergne · 07/12/2017 17:35

To be fair, chihuahua comparisons aren’t quite accurate. I have been bitten twice, once by a chihuahua and once by a Jack Russell. But although it hurt, there was no permanent damage. That’s sadly not the case if a PB goes for you.

That being said, they are no more or less dangerous than any other fighting or guard dog breed.

mustbemad17 · 07/12/2017 17:37

The thing is they aren't even pits. They aren't even anything close to type from that photo. But if reported as type then they are doomed for sure.

Captain i think sometimes people take it too far. I am very anti BSL, I have myself hidden type dogs several times until they can be transported to safety. That said, i am not stupid; if a dog was uncontrolled & dangerous, especially around kids, i would report it. There is absolutely no excuse for stupidity

mustbemad17 · 07/12/2017 17:39

Auvergne i had my leg shredded by a JRT; required extensive stitches. Three days later i got jumped by a mastiff (my fault completely); he grabbed my arm & shook me about like a rag doll. Surprisingly there were no skin breaks, but my arm & shoulder went a beautiful mix of black & blue 😱

AlpacaLypse · 07/12/2017 17:39

If this litter is being marketed on Facebook at the sort of person who actually wants a terrier described as a pit bull, then the puppies will be better off coming to the attention of the police now.

The whole dog industry in the UK is a shambles. It's reached the point where even my mother, who hates all rules and regulations with the passion of 83 years of orneriness, thinks dog licences need to come back again. Or more particularly, licences for people to own dogs.

Missymoo100 · 07/12/2017 17:39

I think you can own one, but subject to strict laws- i.e. Police have to noticed, chipped and certificate of exemption issued. It is illegal to breed or sell.
The problem is with the breed is that they attract idiots wanting to own a "status" dog, so they are socialised all wrong and therefore more likely to be aggressive as a result.
If they do bite, they are such a powerful and big dog they can do so much damage.
I would report.

Missymoo100 · 07/12/2017 17:40

*Police notified not noticed

Auvergne · 07/12/2017 17:41

It’s like anything else, isn’t it - so many determining factors. But fighting and guard dog breeds can do real damage and we are daft if we ignore that.

mustbemad17 · 07/12/2017 17:43

You can only own a 'type' dog if it has been exempted by a court. Then your dog has to be sterilised, chipped, muzzled & leashed outside your house & you have to have third party liability insurance. Any infractions, including lapsing insurance, and your dog can be seized & destroyed. It can be very expensive & keepership can only be agreed after extensive checks. Some housing won't allow exempt dogs. Aand you can't transfer keepership unless exceptional circumstances 😔 There are a few wonderful FB pages supporting families fighting BSL at the minute; id you browse the photos you will realise that no breed is safe

Skarossinkplunger · 07/12/2017 17:43

I have been attacked by a dog on two separate occasions. Both times a German Shepherd was responsible. Do I think that all German Shepherds are demon dogs that should be killed at birth? No, but that’s what BSL does.

CaptainBrickbeard · 07/12/2017 17:43

I think the kind of people attracted to an FB advert for pit bulls are people who go 'aww, cute puppy' and also get a frisson from it being described as a pit bull. I don't think those people are equipped to look after dogs properly and the consequences of untrained dogs is potentially lethal. I wish the owners were held properly to account.

Chrys2017 · 07/12/2017 17:44

I don't agree with BSL, but I do believe that anyone selling illegal puppies on Facebook a few weeks before Christmas ought to be reported. No reputable breeder would sell puppies in the month of December, or sell a puppy without vetting the potential owner.
I would report them, OP.

mustbemad17 · 07/12/2017 17:46

The police won't be bothered about people selling pups before Christmas. They will only be bothered by the fact they are labelled as Pits. There are sadly no laws stopping people selling animals in the run up to Christmas

misscockerspaniel · 07/12/2017 18:09

There are sadly no laws stopping people selling animals in the run up to Christmas. It should also be illegal to sell animals on Facebook, Gumtree etc. I agree with a PP-s mother. People should be checked and licenced before they are allowed to own a dog (or any animal, come to that).

FlouncyDoves · 07/12/2017 18:11

Report them; better the dog is put down than a child killed.

Chrys2017 · 07/12/2017 18:12

The police won't be bothered about people selling pups before Christmas.
Perhaps not but in my mind that makes the sellers irresponsible creeps and would be justification for reporting them under the BSL.

mustbemad17 · 07/12/2017 18:13

The liklihood sadly of the government taking a stand is slim to none, look at their conduct re puppy farms getting licences.

I'm torn re dog licencing. In my experience responsible dog owners already do what they need to. The irresponsible ones break the rules regardless because there is absolutely no consequence for being a bad owner. Until the rules change bad owners will always get away with being bad owners

Original poster
snash12 · 07/12/2017 18:22

I’m really not sure what to do.

I can’t see mum in any of the photos they’ve posted.

I don’t want to give them a death sentence.

Should I just message the seller saying labelling them as pit bulls if they aren’t could be risking them being reported to the police and destroyed?

OP posts:
FlouncyDoves · 07/12/2017 18:23

Just report them. If they’re not pit bulls or another illegal breed then nothing will happen.

Chrys2017 · 07/12/2017 18:27

Post the link and I will report them.

mustbemad17 · 07/12/2017 18:29

OP message the seller & just say that they need to rethink what they are labelling them as. Selling sites are monitored sadly. They will get seized & have to go through the hell of the process that is BSL.

Just to show how bullshit this law is; a rescue recently had an Ambull x & her 12 pups seized. These pups were less than 12 weeks old. Mum & two pups were deemed to be not of type...10 other pups were deemed type & PTS. There is no rhyme or reason to BSL typing

Kitsharrington · 07/12/2017 18:32

Yes I would report to the police. If only to stop the stupid owners from making money off backyard breeding in future.

Chrys2017 · 07/12/2017 18:34

If only to stop the stupid owners from making money off backyard breeding in future.

I can't believe how many people apparently aren't concerned about this. Rest assured if this isn't reported there will be another litter in a few months' time.