Protest - norwegische Verbot des TWH

[Margo]

habe Deine Mail zur Kenntnis genommen. Bin auch absolut Deiner Meinung
aber hätte gerne den Grund des Verbotes gewusst. Muß ja irgendein Argument gegen die Haltung von TWH`s in Norwegen geben. Kann ja nicht nur an der Optik liegen.
Marion

Leider es kann. Es ist so in Sweden passiert, jetzt versuchen das selbe die
Norwegen zu machen. Es geht NUR um aussehen. Die offiziele Grunde sind
lustig (oder besser gesagt traurig): die Ministerium hat keine Ahnung über
diese Rasse, aber Tschechoslowakische Wolfshunde sehen wie Wölfe aus, also
müssen sie sehr gefährlich sein... Echt! Ich habe an Anfang auch gedacht, es
ist bloß ein schlechter Witz, aber für norwegische Politiker sind diese
Gründe ausreichend... ((

Grüsse,
Margo

PS: Hier is Per Olav's Brief. Enjoy!

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These are the official reasons given by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry writes:
"the Department bases this on that both are breeds with large
requirements to their owners. Precise information on amount of wolf
content, has not come forth. For Saarloos Wolfdog the last inbreeding of
wolf was approx. 40 years ago. CSV has a shorter history, and the first
successful inbreeding with wolf in the breeding program was in 1958. These
dogs are few in Norway today. The Department is not aware that they have
caused any damage or harm." and "The Department has come to the conclusion
that Saarloos Wolfdog should follow the general rule for the time being,
while the CSV should be considered a dangerous dog according to the new
law. It can not be excluded that it could become relevant to forbid the
Saarloos Wolfdog also, especially if it appears in communities that can not
be assumed to have a responsible attitude to such dogs."

In other words: The Ministry has no information of the breed, but is
argueing that the closer the wolf - the more dangerous the breed. To stay
safe they are banning.
Thats why the Ministry accept the GSDs and the Belgian Sheperd dogs, the
Saarloos is temporarily accepted but the CSV as the youngest breed should
be banned.

Below is an English translation of the Ministrys arguements regarding wolf
and dog crosses - enjoy

15.5.4 Should crosses between dog and wolf be considered dangerous dogs?

Several instances asked to give recommendations concerning a new dog law,
are in favor of a ban on breeding dog-wolf crosses and also a prohibition
against keeping or importing such mixed breeds.

. Dangerous behavior towards human beings from wolves in their natural
environment is practically nonexistent. As is apparent from section 15.4,
a large number of groups agree that crosses between dog and wolf are
dangerous for people. Internationally, there is an increasing interest in
certain communities in wolf-dog crosses with a high wolf content.

The Department chooses this as a basis and therefore suggests as a starting
point that such animals be defined as dangerous dogs.

There is less agreement on how high such a wolf content should be, for the
animal to be classified as dangerous and therefore banned. The Norwegian
Kennel Club maintain that all dog breeds have roots in animals considered
wolves, and that also many of the dog breeds of today have some association
or other to wolves in the breed's early days.

The Department will maintain that the question to be discussed, is how much
inbreeding of wild wolf in dog in recent time should be encompassed by a
ban. In the evaluation of a ban, there should, amongst others, be sought a
definition that is as practical as possible.

Several dog breeds may have wolf in the breeding process prior to the dog
being acknowledged a breed by FCI of which the Norwegian Kennel Club is a
member. In recent time this is the case for the Saarlos Wolfdog and the
CSV. It can not be excluded that the same is the case for eg. The German
Shepherd Dog, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky and the Belgian Sheepdog
breeds. But especially the German Shepherd Dog is an extensively tested
and wellknown dog breed which, even though with a possible early wolf
element, has a normal function in society and is also utilized as a working
dog to a great extent.

The Department has been in doubt to how extensive a ban on dog types that
are a cross between wolf and dog, should be. The Department has as a
starting-point, that it has no grounds to suggest banning of dog types that
are well established in this country. It could be appropriate to restrict
this to dog breeds with original wolf mixing, which are registered in
Norway by the Norwegian Kennel Club before January 1st 2003.

(Alternative translation: It could be appropriate to accept all dog breeds
acknowledged by the Norwegian Kennel Club before January 1st 2003,
regardless of original wolf content)

But if there has been an inbreeding of pure wolf in individuals of the
breed after the breed has been acknowledged by the FCI which the
registrations in the Norwegian Kennel Club are based on, the ban should
encompass offspring from such individuals. With such a restriction, the
Department assumes that the ban can protect against new dog types that are
a mix between wolf and dog, that the prohibition can practically be
enforced, and that established and widespread dog types are not affected by
the ban.

The abovementioned restriction, means that the dog breeds CSV and Saarloos
Wolfdog are not affected by the ban. However, the Department finds it
necessary to evaluate in particular a ban against these breeds. The
Department bases this on that both are breeds with large requirements to
their owners. Precise information on amount of wolf content, has not come
forth. For Saarloos Wolfdog the last inbreeding of wolf was approx. 40
years ago. CSV has a shorter history, and the first successful inbreeding
with wolf in the breeding program was in 1958. These dogs are few in
Norway today. The Department is not aware that they have caused any damage
or harm.

The Swedish Kennel Club decided in 1997 that Saarloss Wolfdog and CSV
should not be allowed to be registered or participate in any Kennel Club
based activity. In a press notice the 29th of April 1997 the Board of the
Swedish Kennel Club said amongst others:
<<One of the breeds in question comes from former Czechoslavakia, is called
ceskoslovensky vlcak and is considered very shy and watchful. It was given
an interrim approval by the FCI in 1992. The other breed is from the
Netherlands, is called saarloos woolfhond, and has a very reserved and
independent manner. This breed has a final FCI approval. Both breeds are
very similar to the wolf, also exteriorwise. The Swedish kennel Club has
previously taken a definite stand against non-registered wolf hybrids.
Amongst others in "remissvar"(written and posted answers?) and in a policy
decision not to allow wolf breeds to participate in any activities within
the organisation. The same applies to the socalled pitbull terrier. One of
the reasons for the strong dissociation from these breedmixes, is a
considerably increased risk of harm to people and other animals.>>

The Department has come to the conclusion that Saarloos Wolfdog should
follow the general rule for the time being, while the CSV should be
considered a dangerous dog according to the new law. It can not be
excluded that it could become relevant to forbid the Saarloos Wolfdog also,
especially if it appears in communities that can not be assumed to have a
responsible attitude to such dogs.