Illegal dog breeds? Controversial

Just thought this may be of interest, it has been cross posted from another forum with their permission


From: "Wootton, Dave (WSC)" <Dave.Wootton@defra.gsi.gov.uk>


There has been a recent flurry of phonecalls on this subject so some
people are clearly confused about whether such wolf-dog hybrids require
a licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

Wolf-dog hybrids, such as those you have mentioned, are not a true
species but rather a hybrid of the domestic dog crossed with the wolf.
Such animals technically fall within the Act's catch-all listing of all
species of Canidae (they are not specifically named in the Schedule)
(i.e. the dog family) with certain exceptions such as Canis familiaris,
the domestic dog (but not the dingo, Canis familiaris dingo), raccoon
dogs and foxes , and therefore require a licence in order to be kept
privately. It is not illegal to keep such animals providing a licence is
in place.

Local authorities are responsible for licensing and enforcement under
the Act. If an animal is many generations removed from the wolf ancestor
and is essentially indistinguishable from a domestic dog in appearance
and behaviour then a local authority might conceivably choose to
exercise discretion and regard it as a domestic dog (which would not be
licensable). In any case the Act specifically exempts the requirement
for a licence for F3 generation hybrids and beyond.

If owners are in doubt as to whether animals require licensing, then
Defra advises them to contact their local authority for advice.

The Department and the RSPCA have jointly funded research into the
keeping of wolf-dog hybrids (published in 2000).

The contractors found that very few wolf-hybrids were kept and that
advertisements for wolf-dogs were generally misleading and had been
embellished to attract public interest and justify high prices. The
report also outlines some physical characteristics to help identify true
wolf-dog hybrids, which local authorities may find useful. The full
research report is available at The Keeping of Wolf-Hybrids in Great
Britain (556 KB)
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/gwd/wolfdogs/wolfdogs.pdf

I hope this helps.

Regards

Dave Wootton
Policy Advisor
Wildlife Species Conservation Division
Defra
Zone 1/10, Temple Quay House
2 The Square, Temple Quay
Bristol, BS1 6EB
0117 372 8686
dave.wootton@defra.gsi.gov.uk

I think the part in bold says it all.. and that is f3 hybrid.. starting with a pure wolf x dog... not a wolf dog with last wolf input in the 60`s.

Thanks for that Tawney

I think this was in regard to Saarloos etc... Why anyone would think they are NOT legal is beyond me, they are a RECOGNISED BREED in over 80 countries. Some people however could see them as a threat to their own breed!!

SO its finally official..

Sarloos and CWD DO NOT need licences..well fancy that

Maybe someone could PM this to werewolf and ramble please

Also this

Dear Sir/Madam

The majority of the information is correct however with regard to the section "Defra 7.4" which refers to a report done back in 2001, it needs updating to show that there is now an exemption under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act for mammal hybrids, including wolf-dog hybrids, which means that F3 hybrids and beyond no longer require a licence to be kept. I will inform the people at inuithybrids.com accordingly.

Regards

Dave Wootton
Policy Advisor
Biodiversity Programme
Wildlife Species Conservation Division
Defra
Zone 1/10, Temple Quay House
2 The Square, Temple Quay
Bristol, BS1 6EB
0117 372 8686
dave.wootton@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Yep, says the same.

So they are no longer wolf dogs, but dogs. Think it is having them called wolf dogs that causes a lot of the confusion.

To be honest Tania, where is the "real" confusion? Sheep dogs are not sheep hybrids, cattle dogs arent cow hybrids, so anyone KNOWING what they were reading would know they werent Wolf hybrids.

I think certain people would LIKE them to be illegal as they may now be seen as a new Wolfy looking dog who's breeders and owners CARE about what they have and do ALL relevant testing and hide nothing about them. Can you appreciate that "some" people could view this as the demise of "other" types? or at least a favoured alternative to a type surrounded by lies?

I, for one anyway, am happy for my 2 to be classed as 'wolflike dogs' plus I can now keep my Tawney on the kitchen window ledge instead of handing her over to Defra

Proving once again, CWD and Saarloos are DOGS not wolf hybrids

But I can understand why some people perpetuate the myth that they are a banned breed. Well put Dawn.

No need to lie about her in the first place, she was a lovely dog, nobody could change that!

She was a lovely girl, and for that reason I would never have put her at any risk. The thought of her being taken to a Wildlife Park or similar filled me with horror, she was like my shadow and devoted to me and the family

But surely you can see that 'people' would be more worried about someone saying 'I have a wolfdog' rather than I have a 'wolf look-a-like' dog. I did think (obviously mistaken) they were still very recent wolf rather than the last wolf content being before/around the start of the NI.

If it's so long ago, I can't see what is more special than any other dog breed, including NI, UTE, BI etc, etc.

one more question - sounds daft, but does this mean you can get normal pet insurance for these dogs?

Yes, they are normal dogs.

I would seriously look into getting a saarloos I think they are breath taking but then I couldnt imagine 2 katos in my house (just the thought makes me wanna barf) mind you having a pooey day with them.

There is a man near me..who is known as "the wolf man"..

Now this guy has a black mitsubishi animal..with wolf decals on the side..a big cage in full view..the reg numer W9lf m

and eveyone tells me about the wolf man and how he has a wolf and how its scary and huge etc etc..

One day I took CJ to her riding lesson and here was the jeep sitting outside..

We took CJ to her lesson and went back to the van to take the dogs out...just as we got them out the van..this guy appeared..

tall skinny..dressed in black with wolf t shirt and cowboy boots..

He says.. "malamutes"..I said "yes"..

He says.."Ive got one but I tell everyone its a wolf"..

Sooooo yeah..strange guy!! and his dog isn't even that big

Thanks for this - it clears up the debate people were having

Well then I don't understand this advert

During November 2008 cry-wolf is anticipating the birth of two hybrid Saarloos litters. The first litter will be ¾ bred Saarloos puppies out of Sequoyah, a 50% hybrid Saarloos, by the sire Ken Sigel’s Carlic Coyote (Carlic), a pedigree Saarloos. At the time of writing we are able to accept reservations for one remaining boy and girl puppy. Puppies are £1000 each, deposits are £350 and puppies will be ready for adoption about mid December. You may be assured that all deposits received in respect of an ‘internet transaction’ are refundable up to 14 days after the birth of the reserved puppy. Simultaneously to whelp with Sequoyah is Sark, a registered Northern Inuit bitch whom has been mated with Luporossa, another pedigree Saarloos. This combination of breeding produces 50% Saarloos hybrid puppies of exceptional stature, health, intelligence and vitality. 50% Saarloos puppies are £750 each, deposits are £250 and we can accept reservations for two remaining girl puppies. We have also recently mated four pedigree Saarloos bitches with pedigree Saarloos males and are anticipating some purebred Saarloos puppies to be born during October. It is our intention to retain a high percentage of these puppies but there is a possibility, depending on litter sizes, of a strictly limited number of purebred Saarloos pups being available at £2000 each.
======================

Hybrid is mentioned all over the place so what is a 3/4 hybrid Sarloos and a 50% Sarloos? By implication it sounds like wolf.

Plus if NI are so 'awful' why are they using them.

Doesn't it sound like an awful lot of (expensive) puppies are being churned out. If we are to accept they are 'just' a dog?

Is the idea of retaining a high percentage to increase numbers of litters in the longer term?

Sorry in advance if I've messed my 'highlighting' up

WoOPPPP does that mean I was right???

***Does a wee dance***