In today's news... banning

first of all, YES, it is the OWNER'S fault.
If they're not home, their dogs should be INSIDE.
Not left out in a fenced in yard.
ESPECIALLY with dogs such as pits that can jump almost any size fence sometimes.
Anyone who leaves their pit outside, unsupervised when they're not home, and on a THICK chain shouldn't be allowed to own a pit.

Banning breeds is NEVER the answer. NEVER.
I feel bad that the lady lost her scottie to a pit or rott, but she needs to go after the owner, not the breed. Punish the owner, sue him/her and, if she has to (I don't know the circumstances for the rott or pit owner or the dog itself), try to make it so that person can't own a dog.

Banning breeds is a dangerous thing for all humans NOT in any type of power.
It's animal genocide.
It's no different, to me,than what Hitler and the Nazis did to the Jews. AND, I would add a "minus the concentration camps" comment in there, but in parts of Canada where pit bulls are banned, if they find out you have one, they take it and if it isn't killed, they send it off to use in research.
HOW ABOUT THAT?

CRAAAAZY.

There is a lot of activism surrounding breed specific legislation.    Google it and you'll find endless information about what people are doing and then see what you think would be appropriate for your community.

  That's just ludacris. I completely agree that it's the fault of the owners for not properly training and housing these breeds that leads to the negative stereotypes associated with them. It's unfortunate that these women, who are obviously not educated well enough on dogs to request this ordinance, are causing this unnecessary stink. Yes, they did have their dogs attacked, which is unfortunate, but it's not simply because of the breed - it's due to negligent owners. I would suggest writing a letter to the mayor...possibly even your senator. Back it up with some positive statistics. Maybe even contact your local shelters to see if they would be willing to get involved with writing letters or contacting city officials.

In the city where I live all terrier breeds, and pit bulls are under strict guidelines, but the local shelter will not adopt them out and they euthanize them regardless. Isn't that horrible.

All terrier and pit bull owners must pay a $300 license fee per year, plus keep the dog contained at all times. If left outside the dog must be kept in a fully enclosed area; sides and top.

I would also contact any local no kill shelters and ask for their support.

our local shelter (kill) is certainly not a place to start.  unless things have changed with the new director a pit will never even get a chance at adoption...even babies are euthanized!

ORIGINAL: nwmountaingirl
All terrier and pit bull owners must pay a $300 license fee per year,

Isn't it awful that the general population of dog owners aren't educated enough or care enough to educate themselves about pit bulls and be better owners so that politicians don't make laws like this to make money off their ignorance?

I personally think you can slap a "dangerous dog" label on just about any dog.


I would possibly be in favor of your area's laws if the shelter there didn't euth any and all terriers.
This is an obvious ploy to make money off of uneducated, ignorant people.

Isn't it obvious that ALL rotties are evil, blood thirsty monsters!?!  Oh, wait.  That line of thinking gives way to ignorance. 

I hate hearing about BSL, especially when it hits close to home.  Those poor rotties and pitties. []

And Chewbecca's right -- any dog can be dangerous.  A ferocious three pound Yorkie could destroy my face as easily as a 100 pound Rottweiler.  Its teeth and jaws may not be as large, but it can still cause damage.

It would make more sense to me just to pass a law to the effect that ALL dogs (regardless of breed) be confined behind a secure fence. I'm sure mailmen, and other delivery people, have been bitten by much smaller dogs than rotties or pits.

Joyce

I completely agree with you, fuzzy_dogs_mom. Very good point - and maybe one that can be brought up to whomever the decision-makers are within the town, Darla.