In cooperation with the Ludwigsburg police headquarters, we carry out character tests for listed dog breeds on behalf of the municipalities.
According to the current police regulations of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Food and Rural Areas on the keeping of dangerous dogs, it is assumed that a dog is a fighting dog:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Bull Terrier
- and crossbreeds with each other
In individual cases (aggressive behavior), dogs of the following breeds can also potentially be fighting dogs: Bullmastiff, Staffordshire Bullterrier, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Mastin Espanol, Mastin Napoletano, Mastiff, Tosa Ino.
The presumption of fighting dog status can be rebutted by passing a behavior test.
Applications for behavioral testing of fighting dogs must be submitted to the local police authorities (= municipalities). This is then carried out by an official veterinarian and an officer from the police headquarters.
Dangerous dogs within the meaning of the Police Ordinance on the Keeping of Dangerous Dogs are dogs which, without being fighting dogs, justify the assumption that their behavior poses a danger to the life and health of humans or animals. Dangerous dogs are in particular dogs that
- are biting,
- jump at people or animals in an aggressive or dangerous manner or
- are prone to uncontrolled chasing or tearing of game or livestock or other animals.
As local police authorities, the mayor's offices are responsible for ordering measures (e.g. compulsory use of leads and muzzles). With the exception of the character test for suspected or potential fighting dogs, there are no regulations in Baden-Württemberg governing the responsibility and qualification for the expert assessment of the dangerousness of dogs.
In Baden-Württemberg, there are no special laws or regulations for keeping dangerous animals, except for dogs. There is therefore no conclusive definition or list for the term "dangerous animal" as there is in other federal states (e.g. Hesse or Bavaria).
According to Section 121 of the Federal Administrative Offences Act (Ordnungswidrigkeitengesetz), anyone who intentionally or negligently
- allows a dangerous animal of a wild species or a vicious animal to roam freely or
- as the person responsible for the supervision of such an animal fails to take the necessary precautions to prevent damage caused by the animal.
According to the model police regulations on environmentally harmful behavior issued by the Baden-Württemberg Municipal Association, animals must be kept and supervised in such a way that no one is endangered or inconvenienced by odor more than is unavoidable under the circumstances. The keeping of predatory animals, poisonous and giant snakes and similar animals that could endanger people due to their physical strength, poison or behavior must be reported immediately to the local police authority (mayor's office). If necessary, the mayor's office can then take measures on the basis of the general clause of the Police Act.
The police ordinances of the individual towns and municipalities may deviate from the model issued by the Gemeindetag. The applicable local law can be obtained from the mayors' offices.
