Massachusetts - need help

Wonder if there is more to that story of the young woman that was attacked by her own year old dog?  That was a hellatious story.  The dog was put down directly/ by the police officer after the viscious assault on her. She said it would have killed her.  And yet, she said she would get another pit.  
 
I don't know what to think.  A lot of people want that ban.  I know it is a serious step.  Too many people that are not responsible and it gets front page attention.

Here is an article on a proposed ban:
[linkhttp://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/05/03/do_pit_bulls_need_a_law_of_their_own/?p1=MEWell_Pos2]http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/05/03/do_pit_bulls_need_a_law_of_their_own/?p1=MEWell_Pos2[/link]
 
There is a committee hearing on May 14.

I seem to remember that somewhere a high court in some state overturned BSL language on constitutional grounds.  For some reason I am thinking it was Ohio.
 

PetLaw has said emails get little notice...use a stamp instead if you want to make sure your voice is heard.
There's suspicion that most politicians have their emails vetted before they get them...at least opening someone else's mail is illegal lol.

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

PetLaw has said emails get little notice...use a stamp instead if you want to make sure your voice is heard.
There's suspicion that most politicians have their emails vetted before they get them...at least opening someone else's mail is illegal lol.

My rep opens and responds to all my emails - we've been working together on this a long time.  I may get to testify, which is why I want all the emails sent to me.

ORIGINAL: dogslife

Wonder if there is more to that story of the young woman that was attacked by her own year old dog?  That was a hellatious story.  The dog was put down directly/ by the police officer after the viscious assault on her. She said it would have killed her.  And yet, she said she would get another pit.  

I don't know what to think.  A lot of people want that ban.  I know it is a serious step.  Too many people that are not responsible and it gets front page attention.

The story is that she engaged the services of a trainer because she thought the dog was becoming aggressive (age 2 dog, maybe getting dog aggressive?).  Anyway, the trainer she hired is notorious for yank & crank.  I guess he came to the door once too many times, because it was when she opened the door to let the trainer in that the dog went after her.  (Wonder if he was barking and lunging at his "trainer" and she grabbed the collar.....)  We'll probably never know, because anyone who engages that particular trainer is not a behavior guru, and the trainer will likely indict the dog, not his own methods. I certainly wouldn't mind raising the issue of redirected aggression, and how methods differ, just as owners' level of commitment and knowledge differ.  But, that has less to with breed than greed and idiocy.

The story is that she engaged the services of a trainer because she thought the dog was becoming aggressive (age 2 dog, maybe getting dog aggressive?). Anyway, the trainer she hired is notorious for yank & crank. I guess he came to the door once too many times, because it was when she opened the door to let the trainer in that the dog went after her. (Wonder if he was barking and lunging at his "trainer" and she grabbed the collar.....) We'll probably never know, because anyone who engages that particular trainer is not a behavior guru, and the trainer will likely indict the dog, not his own methods. I certainly wouldn't mind raising the issue of redirected aggression, and how methods differ, just as owners' level of commitment and knowledge differ. But, that has less to with breed than greed and idiocy.

 
 
Well, after seeing the "news" on Fox25 with V.B., I was not sure.  I have been on this train of thought that no breed should be banned.  But the news was so misleading.  And the opinions of those on the news and the total lack of the complete story is working for the wrong reasons...and the wrong end result.
 
If this is not text book abuse of a dog and a dog's owner, I do not know what is.  She needs to be educated and understand the fact that she was placed in harms way due to this trainer.  I find it very hard to believe the news could report one tiny part of that story and neglect the most important piece. 
 
News should tell the entire story.  Not creating conflagration.  It is as though they are intentionally leaving out the most important piece to provide the last straw and encourage creating this legislation to ban a breed. 
 
It is pathetic, and I have seen it before with Siberian husky as the "killer".  What should be mandatory when a dog kills or attempts to kill is a thorough investigation of that family/training unit, etc.  No dog has a desire to do that, all on his own.
 
And it has been observed that when there is abuse of an animal in a family that the family members are also quite likely to be undergoing abuse / neglect as well.  Social workers will see this a lot.
 
I am glad that you are standing up for justice.  Animals and their families need protection from these exploiting entities.

Posted on the AKC web site.
 
[linkhttp://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3209]http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3209[/link]
 
 




Support MA's Anti-BSL Bill



[Tuesday, May 08, 2007]


Massachusetts House Bill 1948, sponsored by Representative Bradford Hill, seeks to establish non-discriminatory, workable methods by which to deal with vicious and potentially dangerous dogs. It has been assigned to the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, which will consider the bill on Monday, May 14, 2007. It is vitally important that dog owners contact the members of the Committee to express their support.
The American Kennel Club supports reasonable, enforceable, non-discriminatory laws to govern the ownership of dogs. We support laws that: establish a fair process by which specific dogs are identified as “dangerous” based on stated, measurable actions; impose appropriate penalties on irresponsible owners; and establish a well-defined method for dealing with dogs proven to be dangerous. HB 1948 satisfies those desired qualities. For example, the bill provides that:

Any dog, regardless of breed, breeding, type, or appearance, can be classified as a “potentially dangerous dog” or “vicious dog”.

No dog may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious if any injury or damage is sustained by a person who was:

committing a willful trespass or other tort;

teasing, tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog;

or was committing or attempting to commit a crime.

No dog may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious if the dog was protecting or defending a person or itself from an unjustified attack.

No dog may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious if the injury or damage to an animal was sustained while the dog was working as a hunting dog, herding dog, or predator control dog.

Prescribes a reasonable system by which a dog considered potentially dangerous can have that designation removed.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact the members of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government who will consider this bill and express your support.

Senate Committee Members:
Senator James E. [linkTimilty[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/jet0.htm]Timilty[/link], Chair
[email=James.Timilty@state.ma.us]James.Timilty@state.ma.us[/email]

Senator Patricia D. [linkJehlen[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/pdj0.htm]Jehlen[/link], Vice-Chair
[email=Patricia.Jehlen@state.ma.us]Patricia.Jehlen@state.ma.us[/email]

Senator Steven A. [linkBaddour[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/sab0.htm]Baddour[/link]
[email=Steven.Baddour@state.ma.us]Steven.Baddour@state.ma.us[/email]
Senator Jarrett T. [linkBarrios[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/jtb0.htm]Barrios[/link]
[email=Jarrett.Barrios@state.ma.us]Jarrett.Barrios@state.ma.us[/email]

Senator Susan C. [linkFargo[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/scf0.htm]Fargo[/link]
[email=Susan.Fargo@state.ma.us]Susan.Fargo@state.ma.us[/email]

Senator Richard R. [linkTisei[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/rrt0.htm]Tisei[/link]
[email=Richard.Tisei@ma.state.us]Richard.Tisei@ma.state.us[/email]

House of Representatives Committee Members:

Representative Vincent A. [linkPedone[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/vap1.htm]Pedone[/link], Chair
[email=Rep.VincentPedone@hou.state.ma.us]Rep.VincentPedone@hou.state.ma.us[/email]

Representative Martin J. [linkWalsh[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/mjw1.htm]Walsh[/link], Vice-Chair
[email=Rep.MartinWalsh@hou.state.ma.us]Rep.MartinWalsh@hou.state.ma.us[/email]

Representative J. James [linkMarzilli[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/jjm1.htm]Marzilli[/link]
[email=Rep.JamesMarzili@hou.state.ma.us]Rep.JamesMarzili@hou.state.ma.us[/email]

Representative Douglas W. [linkPetersen[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/dwp1.htm]Petersen[/link]
[email=Rep.DouglasPetersen@hou.state.ma.us]Rep.DouglasPetersen@hou.state.ma.us[/email]

Representative Matthew [linkPatrick[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/mcp1.htm]Patrick[/link]
[email=Rep.MatthewPatrick@hou.state.ma.us]Rep.MatthewPatrick@hou.state.ma.us[/email]

Representative Stephen R. [linkCanessa[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/src1.htm]Canessa[/link]
[email=Rep.StevenCanessa@hou.state.ma.us]Rep.StevenCanessa@hou.state.ma.us[/email]

Representative Denis E. [linkGuyer[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/deg1.htm]Guyer[/link]
[email=Rep.DenisGuyer@hou.state.ma.us]Rep.DenisGuyer@hou.state.ma.us[/email]

Representative Sarah [linkPeake[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/skp1.htm]Peake[/link]
[email=Rep.SarahPeake@hou.state.ma.us]Rep.SarahPeake@hou.state.ma.us[/email]

Representative F. Jay [linkBarrows[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/f_b1.htm]Barrows[/link]
[email=Rep.FJayBarrows@hou.state.ma.us]Rep.FJayBarrows@hou.state.ma.us[/email]

Representative Todd M. [linkSmola[/link]>http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/tms2.htm]Smola[/link]
[email=Rep.ToddSmola@hou.state.ma.us]Rep.ToddSmola@hou.state.ma.us[/email]
For more information contact:

The Massachusetts General Court website: [linkhttp://www.mass.gov/legis/legis.htm]http://www.mass.gov/legis/legis.htm[/link].

The Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Owners website at [linkhttp://www.massfeddogs.org/]www.massfeddogs.org[/link].

The AKC Canine Legislation Department at (919) 816-3503, or e-mail [email=doglaw@akc.org]doglaw@akc.org[/email].
 

Rep. Hill is my Rep. and I requested him to propose this bill.  Please, idoggers, forward this link to all your Massachusetts, or New England, contacts and ask that Mass. residents support Rep. Hill's bill without BSL:
[linkhttp://www.massfeddogs.org/News.html]http://www.massfeddogs.org/News.html[/link]

I'd appreciate it if this could get a "bump" until May 14, when the hearing takes place.
11:00 Room A1 at the State House.  Pibble lovers, be there, but be appropriate - dress for success and let ADOA and others help you by making the case in a non-hysterical way.  Thanks to everyone who helps in any way.

Update - I will be going to the hearing with a rep from ADOA.  Any last minute "good Pit" stories would be appreciated.

[sm=bump2.gif]
 
This is really important.  Good luck on Monday, Anne.  We know you will do the dogs justice.

Thanks - we'll try.[]

Oh, man..... this poor little kid just got bit in the arm by a pit in MA... the night before the hearing.  I feel so sorry for that beautiful little boy (they interviewed him on TV and I just wanted to snug him up or turn back time so that would never have happened to him.)  This is not good news, for the little boy, nor for the pits who are owned by RESPONSIBLE people...

I wonder how many Labs and Goldens bit their kids last night.  That never makes the news, but I have yet to have a kid bitten by a Pit that has come through my classes.  Can't say the same for the other breeds.  It's always Pit "attacks" but Lab "nips". [:@]
Behavior is behavior.  Aggression is aggression.  It isn't the breed that needs banning, it's the human inadequacies that contribute to lack of training, socialization and management of all breeds.
[sm=soap%20box.gif] Off my soap box and off to the hearing...thanks for the good vibes.