Dog Community

Opinions-BSL

anne

Posted : 1/15/2007 12:35:56 PM

Okay, so I was talking with the manager of AC on Friday. I told him they should pass a breeding law (limiting breeding only to good breeders) since so many dogs get euthanized. He said they were going to (he thought I said "breed law";)

He said next year they plan on introducing a law into the city that would "phase out" pit bulls. Keep in mind, I have yet to hear of a pit bull attack in our city. There is NO reason for them to pass this (there never is). Actually one of the AC's got attacked by a FIGHTING pit, but I can list 20 million other attacks in the city by different breeds of dogs. One in which a K9 handler was almost killed by her Belgium Malinois and the dog is still alive.

He said they are going to make people register their pits & tattoo or microchip them. This makes me SO mad. I dont think it should be breed specific.

Thankfully, he told me way in advance (although he is FOR it even though he owns a pit himself), and I want to start planning on how to attack it.

I am looking for opinions & contacts. Although he did say next year I want to have my "ducks in a row".

I am angriest because I believe the manager sees this as a way of cutting back on the pits at his shelter and the ones who are euthanized. I dont think he is doing this because he thinks pits are bad, as I said he has one himself, I think he doesnt want to have to deal with pits anymore, since they do make up a majority of dogs who come in. However, LABS make up the biggest majority. Why not pass a law like that with them as well?

To be honest, I wouldnt care at all if they made non show quailty pits be sterilized. Show quality pits should be excluded. (I am sure Am Staffs will be included there as well). It's not fair to try to "phase out" any breed, pits are great dogs and we have had little problems with them here in my city.

He also said they have a law where if you breed & sell a dog, you have to pay a liscense fee. I asked him why do we have so many dogs in the shelter to which he said "some other agency made the law and we dont have enough AC's to enforce it". SOOO...THey cant inforce a breeding law but they will enforce a pit bull law? Isnt that horrible and stupid?

I am a little outraged. I also asked him if he planned on still adopting pits out if the "law" (he calls it a law I would call it closer to a ban) passed, he says, no, we dont adopt many out anyway. What kind of stupid answer is that?

Advice please??

alieliza

Posted : 1/15/2007 2:22:39 PM

Well, the only advice I can give you is to:
Contact the appropriate people, councilmen, lawmakers, etc. Let them know you will not continue to support those that support BSL. Take your vote away from them. Here is a link to suggestions for writing and sample letters on another forum, but you will have to register in order to be able to see the thread:
[linkhttp://www.pitbullforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=21565]http://www.pitbullforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=21565[/link]

Here is another public link, a website not a forum with BSL news, letter writing tips, strategies for opposing BSL, myths, etc. : [linkhttp://www.dogwatch.net/index.html]http://www.dogwatch.net/index.html[/link]

Offer counter evidence, statistics, etc. Have an arsenal of knowledge, info, etc... see above links.

Spread the word. Advocate for the breed. Educate. A lot of people do not even know what BSL is, or may be in favor of it if they are uneducated:
Here is a description of BSL I posted on the forums a while back:

BSL is "Breed Specific Legislation"... and it is sweeping the nation. As a matter of fact, it is popping up in other countries as well. Many cities and provinces have already adopted the practice of BSL, although some places have rejected it, but its spreading.

BSL can range from mandatory spay/neuter for specific breeds of dogs, mandatory muzzling, to a flat out ban of the breed. When breed bans happen, thousands of dogs are taken from their home, shipped out of the area with the ban, or worse, put to sleep.

BSL generally targets what politicians and the media categorize as "dangerous dogs" (usually it type dogs, including American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, and can include many other dogs -- many breeds have gotten the brunt of this in the past, such as Dobermans, German Shephard Dogs, etc.) Any dog, however, if left in the wrong hands, and not properly trained and socialized, and/or badly bred, can become "dangerous."

Aside from ignorance and thousands of animals being put to sleep, one of the worst things, in my opinion, about BSL is that this means that the law could state that "race determines behavior" and racial profiling is wrong.

To defend my breed, American Pit Bull Terriers are not human aggressive dogs, as a matter of fact, they treasure the attention of humans, and are some of the most affectionate dogs I've ever met. There is also plenty of research to back up their solid temperaments.

Sometimes, however, an insert breed name here falls into the hands of someone who will encourage aggressive behavior, and bingo, bad reputation.

Sorry to go on and on, but this should give you an idea of what BSL is.

There are also a ton of videos out there that are anti-BSL and very moving:
Share them with your friends and family!
Here is an example:
[linkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEhak-Y0_bY&mode=related&search]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEhak-Y0_bY&mode=related&search[/link]=
Search youtube and you'll find more...

Offer a solution: Microchipping and registering is a great idea, but for ALL dogs, not just pits. American pit bull terriers should not be pinpointed. Its not a bad idea to microchip, etc. but no law should be breed specific. Target irresponsible owners instead of specific dogs, etc...

**ETA: This is not to criticize, but in your original post you said "I don't mind if they sterilize non-show quality pits..." but this is still breed specific. When offering solutions, try to stay away from anything that targets a certain breed. Also, if we give them an inch they will take a mile. Any breed specific legislation is bad. Once they start with mandatory muzzling, mandatory spay/neuter, it will just start the ball rolling and lead to worse things... IMO.

I hope this helps!

anne

Posted : 1/15/2007 2:48:22 PM

Sorry I didnt mean pits specifically. I just meant I wouldnt mind if they made spay/neuter mandatory for all non show quality pets, not just pit bulls in general.

I am a bit surprised about this and more angry than anything. Especially because as I said the overpopulation problem is mostly labradors/lab mixes.

Thanks for all the info.

Has anyone had any luck passing mandatory spay/neuter laws in their town (of all breeds?) with the exception of show quality animals?. That is something I would be very intersted in (although most would probably disapprove of it). I know somewhere in New Mexico passed a law of this sort?? I doubt we will, here it is the good ol' boy mentality and we cant even get dog or cock fighting or extreme animal cruelty to be a felony!! Craziness...

I didnt mean pits in particular. That is why I am against this. I am all for spay/neuter of any non quality show dogs. I tried to make myself clear in the first posting but I am more than a little peeved that they are going to try to pass this.

While I doubt it will happen, too many voters are lazy and dont want to get their animal sterilized. I can try though. Microchipping would be a lot farther fetched as well.

Hopefully next year BSL will be "out of fashion" [

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alieliza

Posted : 1/15/2007 2:57:11 PM

I understand what you meant in the first post, but I caution you to be careful of your wording.

spiritdogs

Posted : 1/15/2007 5:11:55 PM

Notify the American Dog Owners Assn, too. There are members there who have experience fighting BSL.