A government minister has defended the Staffordshire bull terrier to MPs. Mr Paice went on to say that Staffordshire bull terriers had been unfairly stigmatised as dangerous dogs and that they make perfectly harmless family pets.
The agricultural minister had grown up with Staffordshire bull terriers, also known as staffies, and is backing a campaign to reclaim their good name.
Latest figures show that 8000 dogs were taken to Battersea dogs home; 3600 of those were Staffordshire bull terriers.
Mr Paice also said that ministers were expecting to announce reforms to the current law early next year in order to make sure dog owners take full responsibilty to control potentially dangerous animals.
Jane Ellsion, Conservative MP for the Battersea Borough, told the MP's:
"I fear that Staffordshire bull terriers have developed a bad reputation following a series of attacks. The animals were among the most difficult to re-home. One of the consequences of the dangerous dogs debate has been the stigmatisation of an entire breed, the Staffordshire bull terrier."
The MP urged the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to back a campaign to rid the breed of its bad reputation.
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