I have just received the following from DERFRA which does show that we still have a chance if our European friends will help us to get ther point across that these are treated in the same way as any other dog.
perhaps some of you could email DEFRA which I am sure would help our cause.
Quote:
I explained in my previous email that all species of Canidae are listed under the DWAA except Canis familiaris, the domestic dog, and a couple of other exceptions. The Act does not officially classify species in terms of 'breeds' at all and makes no mention of either Czech wolfdogs or German Shepherd dogs either way. Rather, under the current legislation, the question is therefore whether these animals should be considered to be Canis familiaris or not. Our current understanding is that Czech wolf dogs are not generally considered to fall within Canis familiaris and that they should therefore be licensed. However, local authorities are the body charged with adminstration of the legislation and are able to decide that such hybrids should be treated as domestic dogs if they consider that this is appropriate. The standard caveat is that, ultimately, only the courts can definitively interpret the legislation.
I also explained that the Act was under review and that although the consultation exercise ended on 20 September 2004, we would look at any information you wished to submit in support of a case to remove a species from the list. This is still the case. However, as the Act itself deals in species and does not specify 'breeds', I therefore suggest that the best approach for you might be to consider whether its possible to provide information to show that these animals are widely accepted to be domestic dogs, Canis familiaris, and no different from other breeds of domestic dog.
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Paul