An animal advocacy group with close to 270,000 followers on Facebook is calling for a boycott of Bermuda over its “antiquated” and “discriminatory” laws prohibiting pitbull-type dogs.

The non-profit group Bad Rap, committed to the advocacy of bull-type breed dogs, yesterday published an online post highlighting that Bermuda continues to seize and destroy dogs while exporting a handful of dogs to be rehomed in the United States.

It highlighted that the acceptance of Bermuda’s dogs by the US was “a stopgap solution”, while the Ministry of Health, Seniors and Environment began looking into “a sustainable long-term solution”.

The post reads: “We ask that you remind your government and the Bermuda SPCA that the time for ending the cruel and inhumane practice of killing family pets is now.

“Until you move forward with ending your breed ban, we fully support a boycott of Bermuda and its businesses. We look forward to the day when this dark history is a part of the past, and we can be proud to promote your beautiful island as a friend to companion animals and the families who love them.”

The post was followed by more than 60 comments, mainly in support for a boycott of the island. Comments included: “Now eliminated from our vacation list, as is any cruise that uses Bermuda as a port of call”, “Does anyone have a list of items that Bermuda exports, please?”, and “That backwards island off my list of where to go to spend my vacation dollars”.

One poster said that while the laws in Bermuda were out of date, “let’s be clear anyone who decides to breed and have an illegal pit is just as at fault.”

Bad Rap’s post specifically mentioned the dog Dayyo, who was separated from his family in Bermuda and exported to Oakland, California, 16 weeks ago. Dayyo was lucky to find a family, but Bad Rap made mention of other dogs that had made their way to the States from Bermuda.

A Bad Rap spokeswoman told The Royal Gazette: “Although the Bermuda’s Ministry of Health, Seniors and Environment has indicated that it intends to review its outdated dog law, we’ve learnt that dogs who’ve been identified as ‘pit mixes’ are still being seized and destroyed before advocates can help them.

“We’re living in a new era where contemporary science has taught us that a dog’s behaviour cannot be predetermined by his breed make-up. During this time of enlightened understanding, dog lovers should avoid spending money in any cities or countries that discriminate against dogs based on appearance until and unless their governments commit to replacing their laws with updated behaviour-based, breed-neutral policies.

“We aren’t surprised that dog lovers support a boycott. With an estimated 80 million dog owners in the US, it’s natural to hear a loud outcry when people learn about harmful practices. Bermuda is a close and much-loved neighbour, so people are going to feel especially heartsick about dogs who look like Dayyo losing their lives.”

Dayyo’s former owner, Salintae Tuzo-Smith, told the paper: “It doesn’t surprise me that they want to boycott Bermuda because a lot of people are passionate about their dogs — they are like they are their children — and I think it is a backwards practice in Bermuda. There are other ways to go around situations than to simply kill off dogs.

“I still miss Dayyo and still embrace the fact that he was my dog. I am obviously saddened to see him go, I feel like a parent that gave her child up for adoption.”

Local group Punish the Deed not the Breed Bermuda has been petitioning the Government to amend the legislation so that pitbull-type dogs are classed as restricted rather than prohibited. The group is affiliated with bad Rap but says it is not behind any calls to boycott the island.

A spokeswoman told The Royal Gazette: “Punish the Deed would like to make clear that exporting the island’s bull-type terrier breeds cannot be an ongoing solution to our animal welfare crisis. While in support of Bad Rap’s movement to amend breed discriminatory legislation. Punish the Deed did not initiate the current action taken by Bad Rap to boycott the island.

“We continue to work diligently towards amendment to the current dog legislation and an amnesty, on behalf of Bermuda’s dogs and responsible dog owners and we hope while current policy is under review that an immediate amnesty will be granted.”

Jeanne Atherden, the Minister of Health, Seniors and Environment, and her technical staff met recently with the Canine Advisory Committee to discuss its report. A ministry spokesman said: “The matter is under active consideration and we will make a statement as soon as there is a material update.”