Fifteen restricted-breed dogs and four dangerous dogs were registered with Banyule Council prior to the state government announcement.

Seventy-five restricted breed dogs were registered before the amnesty ended last month, according to Banyule Council. Two dogs were also surrendered to the council pound and two reports have been made about suspected dangerous dogs.

Council officers now have the power to seize and put down any unregistered dog they determined to be a pit bull or pit bull terrier cross.

Lost Dogs Home chief executive Graeme Smith said there were as many as 5000 pit bulls across the state, of which only about 250 were registered. "That is a severe underestimation of the total number out there," he said.

As the new laws came into effect, the Australian Veterinary Association claimed they created confusion about how to classify a dog as a restricted breed, leading to fears Staffordshire terriers and other dogs would be put down.

Municipal Council of Victoria chief executive Rob Spence said councils needed urgent guidelines for classifying dogs, which could include DNA testing. Council officers would also be trained to identify pit bulls based on visual standards.

Banyule city development director Scott Walker

estimated there have been six reported incidents involving pit bull terriers or pit bull crosses in the last two years.

Department of Primary Industries spokesman Tim Mitchell said it was too early to estimate the total number of pit bulls registered in Victoria.