Think your breed won't be affected?
Spencer, South Dakota banned Blue Heelers along with Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, "wolves" (which aren't a breed of dog), Staffordshire Bull Terriers
Smithfield, Utah labels as "vicious" and requiring a special permit: pit bull, Rottweiler, German shepherd, husky, Alaskan malamute, Doberman pinscher and wolf hybrid
Fairfield, Iowa restricts any dog weighing over 100 pounds and also has restrictions for: Rotties, Dobes, Huskys, Malamutes, GSDs, Malinois'
In Alberta, Canada Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Mastiffs and Rottweilers are prohibited.]
In Northern Ireland, 10 breeds of dogs are bannd: German Shepherds (Alsatians), American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, English Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Akita, Japanese Tosa.
Italy has banned or restricted 92 breeds of dogs, including the Corgi.
Other breeds affected by BSL: mixed breeds, Akitas, Chows, Presa Canarios, Dogo Argentinos, Mastiffs, Filas, German Shepherds, Huskies, Malamutes

But, wait, aren't pit bulls statistically more likely to kill compared to their population size?

According to registries (UKC, AKC, ADBA), there are approximately 5 million pit bulls in the United States. The CDC study reported 60 fatalities attributed to "pit bull type dogs" - statistically, that is 0.0012% of the breed population (.000009% of the total dog population). Chows, according to the CDC report killed 12 people - statistically the fatality rate of Chows is .705% of the breed population.

Are there effective alternatives?

In Calgary, CA there is no breed ban. Instead of creating more laws, existing leash laws and licensing requirements were more stringently enforced. An effective education outreach campaign was initiated. Dog bites dropped 70% and the number of dogs licensed now stands at 90%. That's huge! As a comparison, most license rates are below 20% in the United States.

Corr blimey - Malady I reckon you should offer your services to the police. Cos as far I I know (and as far as many folks on here have been telling you), it's not just purebred pitbulls they're after. The vast majority of dogs that are being IDed as "of pitbull type" are crossbreed dogs from what I've read. Some have been American Bulldogs. I've read that a pedigree labrador fits the DEFRA guidelines by up to 90% and a dog doesn't have to fit them 100% to be seized as "of type".

Still all covered by law. Legally if any dog fits the guidelines they *are* "of pitbull type". That's even with KC papers of parents proving they're not bred from purebred PBs.

They wouldn't give a monkeys about parentage, they've proved that already - some of the dogs seized this time round had papers saying they were pedigree staffies if I remember rightly? If you had a Boxer x Lab and you had the papers for each parent, it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference, that offspring (should it fit the measurements) *is* "of pitbull type". It's perfectly legal, as nuts as it is. It's a disgrace.

actually callum i think pure pits and crosses should be destroyed - (only the crosses if they can be proved they have pit in them)

if you have in your opnions - a boxer/lab that looks like a pit - it should be dna tested like the rest of them - io pure pits have a look, if it can be proved by an expert they can be destroyed

i think you should get over the fact i said if and my view if a small part of others opinions.....!!!!!!!!!

ARRgg i wasnt going to get back into this. However....

First of all its abit unclear from the OP 's initial question as to whether we are talking about trying to get rid of Pits globally or just dealing with the supposed thosands that we still have in the UK.

If we are talking globally i think that its unbelievably pointless as have said many times, its the minority NOT the majority that are responsible for deaths and those instances that have occurred are down to the owners 99% of the time.

If we are talking about dealing with the UK pits then i still have problems. First of all like many have said because of the wide spectrum of "type" covered by the DDA, thousands of family dogs innocent pets etc would fall under the ban and would be seized for having done nothing at all.

I think that the people who own the culprit dogs ( ones that are left to roam) and fighting gangs should be severely punished, their dogs neutured and rehomed if possible otherwise PTS if proven to be unreliable.

It does anger me that many people on this thread who are supporting pitbulls to be globally wiped, dont own a bull breed and in a few cases clearly dont like them..so they are luckily never going to be affected by the DDA, so are acting as a case of touigh luck for the rest of us...

If I came on dogsey and slated golden retrievers, mals, NIs, jrt's etc etc saying they should all be wiped out for whatever reason i would be shot down.

To say that this isnt relevant is dangerous as ultimately if we accept that a law such as BSL can be implemented then ALL of our dogs are at risk,all it takes is a couple of dog attacks by another breed and you will get the media hype and a ban all over again with as different breed. After all the amount of puppy farmers BYB's and dodgy breeders that are chucking out very badly bred crosses and supposed breeds is going to lead to some very unreliable dogs in homes that dont know what they have let themselves in for.

For a dog lovers forum i am incredibly suprised by how many people think nothing of suggesting euthanising millions of potentially completely innocent dogs.

i question again if we were talking about collies how many of you would feel the same - after all the italian version of the DDA has collies listed on it - perhaps we should follow suit ??

Many dog breed info sites say the same about many breeds - that they can be dog aggressive. One is the SBT - the only breed recommended by the KC as ideal for families. What does dog aggression have to do with attacks on humans? Are you suggesting that dogs can't tell us apart from dogs? Your ignorance is astounding.

you wanna know what - if the OP was saying to wipe out the entire pitbull breed.. i agree!!!!!

yes the dda dosent work - so wipe the whole soddin brreed out then!!!

Make all owners of all breeds of dogs liable for the dogs actions in the eyes of the law. Make the punishment fit the deed, IMO the breed is irrelevant. I have no problem being held accountable for my dogs actions and nor should anyone else, if they do then they shouldn't have a dog in the first place.