Italy out to end the corgi menace

Electronic Telegraph ^ | 15/09/2003 | Bruce Johnston in Rome

[aculeus]

A new law that took effect in Italy yesterday brands border collies, corgis and St Bernards as dangerous dogs which children and criminals are barred from owning.

The legislation, passed by emergency decree after a series of pit bull attacks made front-page headlines this summer, places a number of restrictions on ownership of 92 kinds of "threatening" dogs.

Understandably, the new category includes dobermanns, bull mastiffs and German shepherds, as well as pit bulls, of which there are about 16,000 in Italy.

But it also embraces Newfoundlands, a breed with a reputation for mildness - whereas Staffordshire bull terriers, and their close American relation, are nowhere to be found on the list.

Minors, delinquents and criminals who have caused harm to people or animals, will all be barred from owning such dogs, the law states. In cases of illegal possession, it provides for the animal's seizure.

Those people who are deemed to be suitable owners will be required to keep "dangerous" category dogs muzzled and on leads in public.

In addition, they will have to take out special third-party insurance - expected to cost 200 euros (about £140) a year - in the event that their pet causes anyone physical harm.

The provisions were greeted with a mixture of incredulity, cynicism and concern in Italy's media. They also came under fire from animal rights groups - even if the law's general terms met with widespread approval.

"If it wasn't a television series, Rin Tin Tin would have to be sequestered, because his owner, little Rusty, is a minor," said La Repubblica of the decree passed by Silvio Berlusconi's government.

Ciro Troiano of Italy's Anti-Vivisection League said: "There is now a risk that thousands of dogs will be abandoned as owners seek a way out of the problem."

[aculeus]

Corgis: not for criminals

[Lion in Winter]

Why, even the Queen of England has corgis.

[agitator]

ping

[dighton]

"Cave corgem."

[Atchafalaya]

Remember Gary Larson's cartoon of the guy walking in the door to his house and telling his wife he stepped/fell in a nest of weiner dogs? Larson was the best of the best, miss the hell out him!

[basil]

This has got to be one of the stupidest things I have ever read! Looks like we aren't the only country where the government wishes to intrude in every aspect of citizen's lives.

[joesnuffy]

and just how are you going to tell what breed a dog is...if the owner has no papers
how much german shepherd blood how much corgi
then there is the matter of breeds not even on their stupid list
Filas...Cane Corsos .. Canary Dogs ...wont even mention the hundreds of sheep dog breeds throughout Europe Asia minor and proper bred to kill wolves

[Marylander]

[Guillermo]

My favorite was the hunter taking aim at a bear, who was sipping out of a stream in the first frame, and in the second, relaxing on his recliner, smoking a pipe, with the bear stuffed in a menacing pose right next to him.

[MediaMole]

Yup, my neighborhood lives in constant terror from packs of vicious corgis.

[MediaMole]

And, the dangerous corgi charioteers.

[sd-joe]

When Corgis are outlawed, only outlaws will have Corgis. :-)

[Katya]

Goes back to the axiom, all dogs can bite. I have some relatives in Europe, who have always had very aggressive Bernese Mountain dogs and St Bernards, both used as rescue dogs in the Alps region. On the other hand, they're not familiar with aggressive Rottweilers. Here in the states, the bad dog du jour is the Pit Bull or Rottweiler. Some years back, Dobermans fit the bill.
For full disclosure, I own an American Pit Bull and a mini-dachshund. The short male one is the aggressive dog in our family....though strangers stupidly reach down to pet him all the time.

[Ace's Dad]

Border Collies AKA Frisbee Dogs? No way!

[Windcatcher]

WTF?

I say we give these nitwits a round trip ticket to the US and take them on a tour of west Philly. The guys there seem to think it's cool to beat their Pit Bulls to make them mean and then make their 90lb wives walk them.

When my friend was living in the area to go to school, he carried his gun. Not to protect himself, but protect HIS DOG.

Are *all* politicians idiots?

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

How far the mighty have fallen. From the founders suckling on a wolf to their decendants afraid of a Corgi.

[rmlew]

That puppy is too cute.
I'll take the refugee!

[Lazamataz]

Why, even the Queen of England has corgis.

Well, she had corgis until that run of penicillin cleaned it up.

[Lazamataz]

That wolf's not looking too thrilled.

[Lazamataz]

Yup, my neighborhood lives in constant terror from packs of vicious corgis.

Look, if you are made out of sugar, that puppy might lick you until you dissolved. That's a dangerous dog!