Assembly committee vets  “dangerous dogs” bill

The National Assembly (AN) Municipal Affairs subcommittee is holding talks on a bill (281) to regulate the possession of “potentially” dangerous dogs in the country.

It is preparing a report with public input on the initiative presented by the Cambio Democrático (CD), DeputyNoriel Salerno.

According to committee chairman Javier Ortega, they met with and sought the “the point of view of experts in raising these animals “

The Salerno project considers as potentially dangerous canines those “that by their aggressive nature, size or jaw power, have the capacity to cause death or serious injuries to people and other animals.

In the explanatory statement, the proposer cited cases from other countries that have already implemented similar legislation, such as some areas of Spain, the United States and Canada.

The document presented considers about 14 breeds and their crosses: Akita Inu, American Staffordshire, Bullmastiff, Bull Terrier, Doberman, Dogo Argentino, Dogo de Bordeaux, Brazilian Row, Great Japanese Dog, Pit Bull Terrier, O Napolitano Mastiff, Canary Dam, Rottweiler, and Staffordshire bull terrier.

According to Salerno, the project seeks to detail how many dogs of this type exist in Panama, in order to maintain an audit.

The initiative would also create a register of owners based in each municipality, who would be responsible for regulating and applying the standard.

This registry would have the obligation to provide the owners with instruction on breeding and prevention, in which the provisions established in the regulations for the possession of potentially dangerous dogs and the minimum conditions for training and sociability will be indicated.

Animal protection groups in the country question the initiative, considering that the committee lacks the opinions of professionals in training or canine psychology, veterinarians and rescuers.

Authors and specialists, like such as the writer Bronwen Dickey in “Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Idol”, argue that the genes of a specific race do not determine some “aggressive” or “dangerous” behavior in the future, but rather that it connects with the nurturing and attention of the human.

After preparing the report, the subcommittee will pass the project for discussion in first debate.