Romania Outlaws Breeding Pit Bulls

Unpublished correction: The headline should say Hungary instead of Romania.

Breeding pit bull terriers as well as importing or exporting the dogs would be illegal under a measure passed by Parliament on Tuesday.

With the steep rise in crime in Hungary, especially robberies, pit bulls have become the guard dog of choice for the newly wealthy.

The legislation is a response to public outrage over several recent incidents in which dogs attacked people, including children, inflicting severe wounds and in one case killing the victim.

The bill, which is likely to be signed into law by President Arpad Goencz, gives owners 15 days from the time the legislation is enacted to get their dogs neutered.

Violations are punishable by up to two years in prison - three years if the dog causes injury.

There are 2,000-3,000 pit bulls and dogs of pit bull mixes in Hungary.