Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Breed characteristics and traits > Breed bans - BSL - Pit Bull bans

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old February 3rd, 2007, 04:17 AM
Mom_Of_Two_Dogs's Avatar
Mom_Of_Two_Dogs Mom_Of_Two_Dogs is offline
Meaghan Edwards
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 401
Breed bans stem from stereotyping (Ontario positive press!)

Excellent article!

Quote:

Tanya Sparling, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

Pixie is a purebred, Canadian Kennel Club-registered Staffordshire bull terrier, world-renowned for its friendly temperament and affection for children. She is also included in the pit bull ban.

Good dog owners are punished and bad dog owners ignore the law
By Eric Sparling
The Hamilton Spectator
(Feb 3, 2007)

You hate me. No, just admit it -- you hate me. You think I'm a drug dealer. You think I drive a rusty car, have a criminal record, and wear ugly clothing. You hate me because you think I'm poor, ignorant and mean.

You hate me because I own a pit bull.

She isn't really a pit bull, actually. Pixie's a purebred, Canadian Kennel Club-registered Staffordshire bull terrier, a small breed topping out at 40 pounds, and world-renowned for its friendly temperament and affection for children. But Ontario's Attorney-General, Michael Bryant, says square pegs fit in round holes, so my dog is included in the pit bull ban.

A lot more dogs may soon be joining Pixie. In the wake of a terrible attack by two Rottweilers on a small boy, residents of Hamilton are understandably outraged. What is it going to take to stop these incidents? How can we protect ourselves and our children? Many voices are calling for an expansion of the province's pit bull ban. They'd like to see other "inherently vicious" breeds outlawed.

But instead of calling for more breed bans, the public should see this recent incident as further proof of what dog experts have been saying for years: Breed bans don't work. This is a human problem, not a dog problem.

You're thinking: "These dog people always say it's a human problem, and ignore the fact that their dogs are inherently vicious."

Well, I have a little request to make: Suspend that belief and be open to hearing another perspective.

Responsible dog owners are just as outraged as you are that children are being mauled by family pets. This is an unacceptable situation.

Responsible dog owners -- the ones who treat their dogs with equal measures of love and calm discipline; who push for stronger animal welfare laws so that abused animals don't became vicious animals; who believe in strongly enforced dog licensing and leash laws; who want to see dog smarts taught in elementary schools; and who think puppy mills should be shut down permanently -- should be a resource for the public and the government.

Instead, their input has been ignored.

Let me be very blunt about this: In the dog debate, there are experts and there are laypeople. The experts, including provincial and national veterinary associations, humane societies, kennel clubs, even the Canada Safety Council, which has no vested interest in protecting dogs, are opposed to breed bans.

It's almost always the laypeople, who may be well-intentioned but simply don't have all the facts, who call for bans.

Fact: The Canadian city with the most success in curbing dog attacks is Calgary. They did it by ramping up enforcement of existing leash and licensing laws, and by doing educational outreach. Dog bites have dropped by 70 per cent, and more than 90 per cent of dogs are licensed. And they don't have a breed ban.

Fact: The province of New Brunswick considered breed bans. Unlike Ontario, that province decided that breed bans wouldn't protect the public, preferring to enact tougher animal control laws that hold owners responsible for their pets. This strategy had bi-partisan support.

Fact: Half of all dog breeds on the planet were created for a violent purpose, including some of the cutest, such as Dachshunds (the wiener dogs) and Yorkies (the little ones with bows in their hair). Pit bulls aren't the exception, but the rule. Dogs are predators, descended from wolves (all of which have to kill to eat). Unlike some legal breeds, however, pit bulls were not designed to attack humans.

Fact: Donna Trempe's daughter was killed by a Bullmastiff in one of Ontario's most horrific dog attacks. Trempe knows about dog aggression, in personal, terrible detail. So why is she opposed to breed bans? Because she knows that breed bans do not protect children.

Fact: Ontario's breed ban, Bill 132, presumes guilt before innocence and punishes many blameless people and their pets to get at a small fraction of the guilty. A similar law was passed in Toledo, Ohio; that state's supreme court overturned it, deeming it unconstitutional. An Ontario court is currently reflecting on whether the pit bull ban violates Canada's constitution. A decision is expected in the very near future. Regardless of the outcome, look for the Ontario government to spin the decision to their advantage.

As long as breed bans are the government's answer to dog attacks, the problem will persist. We know this from attack statistics in other jurisdictions. When pit bulls were banned, the following happened: Good dog owners with well-raised dogs were punished; bad owners with bad dogs ignored the law, or dumped their pit bulls and immediately moved to their next favourite breed.

How long do you think it will be before their new, badly bred, badly raised dog bites someone?

The breed switching will never end. We'll have to ban more and more dogs. Some countries that followed this path have banned dozens. A province that embraces breed bans is a province where dogs, regardless of breed, have no future.

By the way, I'm not a drug dealer and I don't have a criminal record. Yes, my car has a rust spot or two, but it's a Honda CR-V. My favourite pastime is throwing pottery on a wheel, and I speak a smattering of Japanese. My wife is in her second year of a doctor of veterinary medicine program at Ontario Veterinary College. And the dog we had before Pixie was a lovely golden retriever.

So much for stereotypes.

Eric Sparling lives in Waterdown.
Source
__________________
Visit us at Dogster!
http://www.dogster.com/?88586
http://www.dogster.com/?88600
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old February 3rd, 2007, 01:39 PM
wdawson's Avatar
wdawson wdawson is offline
Papa D
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: dog loving hamilton,ont
Posts: 4,319
yes it is well written......finally a positive story..and from the spec to boot.
__________________
Wayne
Dad To :
George 18 year beagle, Rest in peace little buddy....love
Beathoven 7 year old mutt
Maggie 5 year jack russell
Felix 15 year tabby
Ozzie 12 year tabby
Tigger 10 year long hair cat
marley just a pup
sasha grand pup___________________________________________________________
Lettin the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin it back in.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't gonna happen anyway.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old February 3rd, 2007, 01:42 PM
erykah1310's Avatar
erykah1310 erykah1310 is offline
Blue eyed funny farm
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 5,595
That is well written..
__________________
Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyways. ~John Wayne
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old February 3rd, 2007, 05:39 PM
mummummum's Avatar
mummummum mummummum is offline
-
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: The Hammer
Posts: 8,534
Fantastic article. Easily the most reasonable, articulate thing I've read in a newspaper about breed bans.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old February 3rd, 2007, 10:27 PM
Maxine's Avatar
Maxine Maxine is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Montreal
Posts: 300
I agree totally, very good article
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old February 7th, 2007, 10:26 AM
Odieandmaggiesd Odieandmaggiesd is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: rockland
Posts: 37
Great article...if only the "lawmakers" could understand any of this...to them their like...wow this guy seems like an upstanding person...but sinc ehe has a pitbull he must be into some kinda crime...

it just blows me away how they can make assuptions like this...

I got pulled over last weekend, I had Odie in the bar...he was talking away as he usually does when the cop came to the window...you know..the rooooooooraaaarrr rooooo type stuff..and the cop is like...if ur pitbull doesn';t stop growling at me I'm gonna shoot it...I tried to explain thathe was just talking andthat all he wants is to get scratched by you...he had his hand on his gun the whole time...I could imagine what would have happened if Odie tried to give him a kiss...
__________________
Staffies-the king of breeds-a work horse-a cuddly licking machine-found in the top ten breeds for kids by the southhampton U-so comitted to their people they are willing to do anything to please them...the only breed for me
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old February 7th, 2007, 10:39 PM
babyrocky1's Avatar
babyrocky1 babyrocky1 is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,126
Quote:
Originally Posted by Odieandmaggiesd View Post
Great
I got pulled over last weekend, I had Odie in the bar...he was talking away as he usually does when the cop came to the window...you know..the rooooooooraaaarrr rooooo type stuff..and the cop is like...if ur pitbull doesn';t stop growling at me I'm gonna shoot it...I tried to explain thathe was just talking andthat all he wants is to get scratched by you...he had his hand on his gun the whole time...I could imagine what would have happened if Odie tried to give him a kiss...
Yikes, thats horrifiyng!!!!

Great article though, and dont you just looooove those little Staffie Bulls, we have one regular girl at "pittie co-op" Rocky is crazy about her!!!!
__________________
My Ontario Includes Democracy...bye bye Bryant!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old February 7th, 2007, 11:44 PM
mummummum's Avatar
mummummum mummummum is offline
-
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: The Hammer
Posts: 8,534
but...can you a blame the Copper if he doesn't know any better ?

I am a doglover through and through.
I loved my Dobie and my 2 Rottie's. And I can't imagine 3 less deadly dangerous dogs frankly. But the only Pitbulls I ever met have been in the course I of the work I once did and while, I can't speak to the dogs I can speak about the owners and they certainly met the stereotype ~ and they did so gladly.

So it has been a welcome education coming to pets.ca and meeting all the pitties and staffies and their people ( the real pittie and staff folks that is!).
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old February 8th, 2007, 08:14 AM
Odieandmaggiesd Odieandmaggiesd is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: rockland
Posts: 37
In a way I can't blame him...cuz ur right he probly doesn't know better...but I know that if a dogs was talkin to me and wagging his tail and generally looked all happy and excited...I wouldn't be too worried...but then...I'm dog people...

I'd be curious to see what would have happened if I had a lab or golden retreiver with me...
__________________
Staffies-the king of breeds-a work horse-a cuddly licking machine-found in the top ten breeds for kids by the southhampton U-so comitted to their people they are willing to do anything to please them...the only breed for me
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:25 PM.