A petition will be debated before parliament today opposing calls to add the Staffordshire Bull Terrier to the band breeds list.

The debate will take place in the House of Commons at 4.30pm and you will be able to watch the debate live on Parliamentary TV.

Battersea Dogs Home strongly opposes this ban as last year they rehomed 350 Staffies, who they say are loving, gentle and loyal animals.

A Battersea spokeswoman said: “There are, of course, dangerous dogs in our communities, but Battersea does not believe a dog is dangerous simply because of the way it looks.

“We support a common-sense approach that says dogs should be judged on what they do, not on what they look like.”

Dog attacks have risen since four breeds of dogs were banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, proving that these laws do not work.

The spokeswoman continued: “We know that in the right environment, and with the right owners, Staffies can and do make ideal family pets. Thousands of proud owners will tell you that Staffies really are softer than you think.”

It obviously comes down to the owners. But how can we guarantee that dogs are properly taken care of?

Battersea Dogs Home look after thousands of dogs a year, finding them proper loving homes.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook.