A law enacted at the beginning of this year orders that all pitbull dogs (crosses of several types of bull terriers) must be eliminated in Venezuela by 2015. In the meantime, these dogs must be kept strictly kenneled. “The pitbull breed is a product of the lab that poses a danger to other species, and even for humans,” said Jesús Manzanilla, director of the biodiversity office of Venezuela's Environment Ministry. In the last decade, pitbulls have killed several people in this country.

Cristina Camilloni, president of the Caracas Animal Protection Association, told Tierramérica that “the legislative decision is aberrant – it calls for the extinction of that breed – and meanwhile establishes cruel conditions for the dogs.”

Manuel Díaz, of the Venezuela Ecological Movement, advocated replacing the legislation with rules for obligatory use of harnesses and muzzles for pitbulls, and for their owners to have insurance.