Earlier this year, Victoria’s strict laws that prohibited certain breeds of dogs such as pit bulls from being registered if they weren’t registered before 2011 were found to be costing councils money and causing owners distress.
And now, the government has agreed to pare back the laws, which were first introduced in 2011 after Ayan Chol died from a vicious dog attack.
The potential changes could allow pit bull owners to register their dogs rather than have them face automatic extermination because of their breed.
“We will be developing and introducing legislation next year,” Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford told The Herald Sun.
“We will be putting very strict controls in place to ensure community safety. We need the laws to be workable and to be effective.”
The new laws would look to shift the focus from the breed of dangerous dogs to their actual behaviour and owner responsibilities.
Owners of certain breeds could also be required to increase warning signs around their homes.
Meanwhile, the changes could also see the government “consider further the issue of exercising greyhounds off leash”.
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