For those who are not familiar with the terms I'll give a brief run-down.
BSL= Breed Specific Legislation. BSL is aimed at dogs who fit a certain type considered dangerous. The problem is that there is almost no way to tell a dog's definite breed without a large pedigree listing it's lineage. Rottweilers, 'pit bulls', boxers, Dobermans and such are all under attack. These dogs are judged by the actions of animals owned by uncaring/irresponsible owners which in turn ruins it for the rest of us.
MSN= Mandatory Spay/Neuter. MSN was recently passed in L.A. (I believe, I'll correct it if I'm wrong). It requires early spay/neuter and breeders need to buy a permit in order to have their animals intact. It also requires written documentation of medical reasons if a pet cannot be spayed. This was originally thought of as a solution to BYBs and Puppy mills. Since the people responsible for puppy mills and BYB facilities don't follow laws, MSN only punishes the responsible.
There is a way to correct the dog bite problem and reduce the pet overpopulation problem. It doesn't require laws punishing the responsible and it does work.
http://www.windsorhumane.org/pdfs/Bill%20Bruce.pdf
http://caveat.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2007/1/29/2694938.html
Essentially, Calgary has reduced their dog bite stats, increased licensing and increased owner responsibility. How you ask? Like this:
In grade school, their children are taught the 'Four Pillars of Owner Responsibility'. Their children learn from an early age (which is how it should be) that companion animals are not just throw away toys.
The Four Pillars of Owner Responsibility:
1) Companion Animals need to be licensed and Permanently Identified. This is fairly simple and inexpensive if only people in the US would do it.
2) Companion Animals should be spayed and neutered for their health and to prevent accidental litters.
3) Always provide the necessary food, training, exercise and care for companion animals.
4) Never allow your pet to become a nuisance or danger to the community.
Are these things really that hard?? It seems to me that it's cheaper and less time consuming just to do the above list than to face criminal charges, fines and steep medical bills. Experience should have taught us that criminals do NOT follow the laws. By adding more laws to what we have, only the law-abiding citizens suffer. Please take this to heart and pass it on! Teach your children the Four Pillars and volunteer to do an Assembly at your local schools. By preventing the creation of right removing laws we protect the future of our country.
6/25/08
Owner Responsibility..PT 2
I promise I'll get off my podium regarding this subject after this post.
This is more geared towards those who own large breed (over 50 lbs) or dogs who are typically seen as 'vicious', 'dangerous' or overly strong breeds. More specifically, the owners of bully breeds, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Hounds etc need to pay attention.
I firmly believe that we who choose to own these beautiful, working dogs have added responsibility. It is part of our duty to provide everything in the previous post AND go the extra mile to ensure our dogs project a positive image for their breed. Liwanu is a mix. I know what breeds he consists of because of physical attributes, temperament characteristics and behavior traits. Since I know what he is, I know how he looks it is my job to ensure that no one gets hurt by him. Behaviors that other dogs can get away with are unacceptable. A growling Chihuahua would make everyone laugh, a growling 90lb mutt isn't as humorous.
As hard as it is, we need to have higher standards for our dog's behavior. Anything that could hurt or scare another is unacceptable. It's not fair that our dogs have to go above and beyond but in order to fight the misconception the Media blatantly throws to the public it is on our shoulders to prove them wrong.
This doesn't mean you hurt or get rid of a chow mix who has some behavior issues...it simply means that you need to take time and money out of your shoe or restoration car project to put into a behaviorist or R+ trainer. Pick up a book and read. Do what you can and if all fails at least you tried.
This is more geared towards those who own large breed (over 50 lbs) or dogs who are typically seen as 'vicious', 'dangerous' or overly strong breeds. More specifically, the owners of bully breeds, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Hounds etc need to pay attention.
I firmly believe that we who choose to own these beautiful, working dogs have added responsibility. It is part of our duty to provide everything in the previous post AND go the extra mile to ensure our dogs project a positive image for their breed. Liwanu is a mix. I know what breeds he consists of because of physical attributes, temperament characteristics and behavior traits. Since I know what he is, I know how he looks it is my job to ensure that no one gets hurt by him. Behaviors that other dogs can get away with are unacceptable. A growling Chihuahua would make everyone laugh, a growling 90lb mutt isn't as humorous.
As hard as it is, we need to have higher standards for our dog's behavior. Anything that could hurt or scare another is unacceptable. It's not fair that our dogs have to go above and beyond but in order to fight the misconception the Media blatantly throws to the public it is on our shoulders to prove them wrong.
This doesn't mean you hurt or get rid of a chow mix who has some behavior issues...it simply means that you need to take time and money out of your shoe or restoration car project to put into a behaviorist or R+ trainer. Pick up a book and read. Do what you can and if all fails at least you tried.
6/19/08
Owner-Responsiblity
SURELY THESE DOGS DESERVE DEATH!
When they came for the pit bulls,
I remained silent;
Surely these dogs deserved death!
When they banned the rottweilers,
I remained silent;
Who needs these dogs?
When they came for the guardian breeds,
I did not speak out;
My dog was not one of these.
When they came for the large dogs,
I remained silent;
My dog was small.
When they came for all dogs,
there was no one left to fight with me.
There was a time when Americans stood united to protect our way of life as well as our property. Our society has deteriorated into a self-absorbed mess. No longer do we offer kindness to each other, no longer do we see the government as working for us. We blindly accept the decrees they make and are content with our rights being washed away in a tide of idiocy. We allow the media to brain-wash us into following the agendas of ARA (animal-rights activists) and other non-political organizations. I support animal welfare and animal rights, I do not support the mass extinction of a species based on it's body type.
Dogs cannot be held responsible for their actions (legally) because they are considered 'dumb' by law. The responsibility is completely on the owner. I have a 'dangerous' dog. He truly is dangerous because of his fear-aggression, unpredictable tendencies and the fact that he's 90lbs and knows how to use his weight. These things combine to make him a serious threat to the general public. I know that my dog can and will hurt someone if I am not constantly alert to the surroundings. I have set a protocol down for our daily routines and I always have a back up plan. Because I know this, I step up and go the extra mile to ensure his safety and the safety of others.
As dog owners it's OUR DUTY to keep our animals safe from other people while simultaneously keeping other people safe from our animals. BSL (breed-specific legislation) is BULLSHIT because it does nothing to address the true problem behind fatal and non-fatal dog attacks. No dog has ever or will ever attack a person for no reason. We may not be able to see the reason (most commonly we cannot because we are not directly involved) but there is one. Simple reasons for dog attacks are; fear, stress, being trapped, pain and illness. A few safety tips for EVERY dog owner out there are:
1) Know your dog. What were they bred for? How did they do their job? How much energy do they have (this dictates how much time/exercise they'll need)? How do they handle new situations/people? How are their obedience commands?
2) Train your dog. If there are any behavioral issues which can be potential signs of things to come (such as food-aggression, growling/lunging/charging at people, hackling etc) seek a professional who uses positive reinforcement or pick up a book from my recommended reading list. ALL dogs should know basic obedience commands and respond to them well. Training is very important regardless of breed/size or how cute the dog is.
3) Know your area. Know the dogs/people around your home, along your walking route and anywhere that you leave your dog for periods of time. You don't need to know a name or their life story, just familiarize yourself with the faces so you can recognize characters that are out of place. Know which areas have children so that you can protect them and your dog from bombardment or it's effects.
4) Never take for granted that your dog is harmless. EVERY dog can and will bite if it's pushed too far. Make a plan for emergency and keep your dog secured inside the house, inside a REAL fence or on leash at all times. Invisible fencing is only moderately effective at keeping dogs in an area and it doesn't keep anyone out. Chained dogs are more likely to be aggressive and hurt people/animals because of their frustrations.
TO BE CONTINUED...........
When they came for the pit bulls,
I remained silent;
Surely these dogs deserved death!
When they banned the rottweilers,
I remained silent;
Who needs these dogs?
When they came for the guardian breeds,
I did not speak out;
My dog was not one of these.
When they came for the large dogs,
I remained silent;
My dog was small.
When they came for all dogs,
there was no one left to fight with me.
There was a time when Americans stood united to protect our way of life as well as our property. Our society has deteriorated into a self-absorbed mess. No longer do we offer kindness to each other, no longer do we see the government as working for us. We blindly accept the decrees they make and are content with our rights being washed away in a tide of idiocy. We allow the media to brain-wash us into following the agendas of ARA (animal-rights activists) and other non-political organizations. I support animal welfare and animal rights, I do not support the mass extinction of a species based on it's body type.
Dogs cannot be held responsible for their actions (legally) because they are considered 'dumb' by law. The responsibility is completely on the owner. I have a 'dangerous' dog. He truly is dangerous because of his fear-aggression, unpredictable tendencies and the fact that he's 90lbs and knows how to use his weight. These things combine to make him a serious threat to the general public. I know that my dog can and will hurt someone if I am not constantly alert to the surroundings. I have set a protocol down for our daily routines and I always have a back up plan. Because I know this, I step up and go the extra mile to ensure his safety and the safety of others.
As dog owners it's OUR DUTY to keep our animals safe from other people while simultaneously keeping other people safe from our animals. BSL (breed-specific legislation) is BULLSHIT because it does nothing to address the true problem behind fatal and non-fatal dog attacks. No dog has ever or will ever attack a person for no reason. We may not be able to see the reason (most commonly we cannot because we are not directly involved) but there is one. Simple reasons for dog attacks are; fear, stress, being trapped, pain and illness. A few safety tips for EVERY dog owner out there are:
1) Know your dog. What were they bred for? How did they do their job? How much energy do they have (this dictates how much time/exercise they'll need)? How do they handle new situations/people? How are their obedience commands?
2) Train your dog. If there are any behavioral issues which can be potential signs of things to come (such as food-aggression, growling/lunging/charging at people, hackling etc) seek a professional who uses positive reinforcement or pick up a book from my recommended reading list. ALL dogs should know basic obedience commands and respond to them well. Training is very important regardless of breed/size or how cute the dog is.
3) Know your area. Know the dogs/people around your home, along your walking route and anywhere that you leave your dog for periods of time. You don't need to know a name or their life story, just familiarize yourself with the faces so you can recognize characters that are out of place. Know which areas have children so that you can protect them and your dog from bombardment or it's effects.
4) Never take for granted that your dog is harmless. EVERY dog can and will bite if it's pushed too far. Make a plan for emergency and keep your dog secured inside the house, inside a REAL fence or on leash at all times. Invisible fencing is only moderately effective at keeping dogs in an area and it doesn't keep anyone out. Chained dogs are more likely to be aggressive and hurt people/animals because of their frustrations.
TO BE CONTINUED...........
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