If You Had One Chance To Sit Down, And Talk To Those Who Want To Ban 'Certain' Dog Breeds, What Would You Say To Them?
I would say that I have living proof that Pitbulls or any breed AREN'T born 'aggressive'.. It's the way they're raised, and brought up, Just like us. If my parents treated me real bad, and I seen a lot of aggressive behavior from them towards other people, most likely I would grow up that way.. There's times that there's innocent children stuck in horrible homes, and aren't anything like the people that live in it - But they're the lucky ones. No one is perfect. No Human. No Animal. Nothing. All I'm saying is I believe how an animal is raised, and how an animal is taught is usually how they'll grow up, and treat others. An animal is not going to like anything if it's stuck in a cage all it's life; As much as it hates it in the cage. if you were to let it out; he may not want to leave - It's all he knows. He'd be too afraid. I think Pitbulls, and other BSL dog breeds need to have training, good socialization, and lots of love when they're little... and they'll grow up to love life, and everyone in it. I think BSL is an easy way out of it all, and in fact, I believe it's a very ignorant.
-Alanna, Dearborn Hgts., Michigan
I would say,"How can u honestly blame these breeds when it is at the hands of careless, thoughtless and ignorant humans that raise the dogs to be the way they are. It is not their (the dogs) fault so why should they have to suffer. If there was harsher punishments for this lack of passion that these people that are doing this maybe there would be a chance of less abuse and neglect. I myself feel that the same fate should be imposed on the humans as what they have done to the animals...Maybe then they will learn. And if you don't like how I feel that's not my problem. BY: Cheri Patterson of Alabama
I've actually rescued each and every one of the breeds that are being banned and they've lived in MY home with MY three YOUNG children, and We've been doing rescue for two years! The most profound thing I can think of is what my daughter said about our Foster Dog, Brunella;
"When is Brue going to have puppies?"
[me], "she's not, she's spayed"
[daughter] "why? what's that?"
[me], "so she doesn't make puppies"
[daugher], "but Pit Bull puppies are so cute"
[me], "yes honey but there are so many at the shelters"
[daughter] "I know!!! (epiphony) If EVERYONE spays their dogs you'll be done working right?"
[me], "yes honey"
My daughter Madeline is 8 years old, almost 9, but struggles with autism and BiPolar - she functions at a 5 year old level, but has more sense than most adults I guess.
Julie Klingsberg & Madeline, Fallbrook, CA
When a human who has the capacity to reason kills a person (humans have killed far more humans and animals then any breed of dog) we do not delete that persons family, race, ethnicity from the gene pool of the human race. Why on earth would we do that to dogs who don't have the ability to reason, only to react on instincts and training of humans? It seems we are not using our capacity to reason but reacting instinctively like the "vicous" animals we are accusing these dogs of being.
Stacey L. Lewis
United Bully Breed Council
Houston, TEXAS , United States of America
I don't have a dog of my own, although I do help to care for many dogs every week...Some of my favorite breeds are on that list, and I can't imagine why anyone would think it was a good idea to ban such beautiful animals from existing. I can't comprehend why these people would want to deny the right of these amazing dogs to live. I just don't understand people. They want to kill every animal they see as a possible threat. Except, any pet could become dangerous under the influence of the wrong people. And really, we humans are the most dangerous animals of all.
-Katharine Tellerday, New York state
Dear Senator Whitmire,
I am writing you in regards to SB 349. I wish to tell you a bit about the breed of dog that is usually targeted in the Breed Specific Legislation. The American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier. According to the American Temperament Test Society the two breeds of dogs mentioned above scored very high in the testing. The higher the score, the better the temperment. The American Pit Bull Terrier scored a 84.1% and out of 542 dogs 456 dogs passed the test. The American Staffordshire Terrier scored 83.9%, out of 521 dogs tested 431 passed the temperament test. Many other breeds scored much lower including the Bearded Collie who scored a 53.3%, the Airedale Terrier who scored a 76.5%, The Akita scored a 73.6%, the Australian Cattle Dog scored a 78.4%. Other dogs that scored lower were the Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Bichon Frise, Bloodhound, Bulldog, BullMastiff, Cairn Terrier, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Catahoula Leopard Dog, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested Dog, Shar-Pei, Chinook, Chow Chow, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Dacjsjimd (minature Smooth,& Standard smooth), Dalmation, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Doberman Pinscher and I have not even made it through the D's. You can check these statistics at http://www.atts.org here you will find information about what the Temperment test is as well as the breed statistics for each of the breeds tested.
Also, a point of concern is that many times the dogs that are causing a problem are dogs that belong to people that are already breaking the law. I do not believe that passing another law will stop the people that are in possession of the dogs that are of concern. The only people that will be affected by the new law is the people that care about obeying the law. Many law abiding citizens own these dogs as family pets and companions. These are great dogs if they are given the chance. To pass a law like this will cause the law abiding citizens unnecessary distress as they will be forced to either move, or give up a valued member of their family while the people who are already breaking the law with the dogs that they own will care less about another law imposed. It will make criminals of law abiding citizens.
Many Pit Bull's are hero's. Sgt. Stubby was the first war dog and he was a pit bull. President Theodore Roosevelt owned a pit bull; Helen Keller owned a pit bull; Michael J. Fox owned a pit bull and many other people have owned and still own pit bulls.
Pit Bulls work as search and rescue dogs, explosive detection dogs and police dogs. Neville a pit bull was a Washington State Police dog that was rescued from Canada. He works as a Bomb-sniffing cop in the war on Terrorism. Taylor was a pit bull that worked with the US Customs department as a drug sniffing dog. She was featured in the 1997 Dog Fancy magazine as "$30 million Sniffer Nabs Smugglers" article. Popsicle was found in a freezer injured and dying, he was used as a bait dog...he was trained and worked also with the US Customs Agency and he is legendary. He was the top drug sniffing dog in the US and was featured on the Oprah Winfery Show. I have even spoken to the US Customs K-9 supervisor in California on Taylor and another dog by the name of Trixie. He said that they were wonderful dogs and they are now retired and live as the family pets of the handlers that they worked with.
When the Space Shuttle Columbia went down in Texas Dakota a pit bull and her handler Kristine Crawford were picked to help for the search of the astronauts there in your good state of Texas. RCA Was the first Certified Hearing Dog in Alaska beating out 170 dogs that were temperament tested for the job.
Some Family Pit Bulls that have also done extraordinary things are: Wheela the 1993 Ken-L-Ration Dog Hero of the Year, not only did she save the child in the family from a snake bite, she also saved 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses and a cat when a dam broke on the Tijuana River in January 1993. Norton was the Purina Hero (I do not have the year) who was a "loser" dog (loser because he would not fight) he was taken in by a loving family and he saved his owners life...the owner was bitten by a spider and Norton saved her when she went into anaphalatic shock. Rock, a family owned pit bull saved the entire family when armed assailant entered the home. Rock was killed in the attack, but even though he was shot several times he kept up the attack until the assailants fled the home. BlueBerry another pit bull also saved her owner from two armed attackers in Indiana. The dog pounced on intruders as they opened fire. Blueberrys legs and jaw were broken but she kept up the attack saving her owner. These are just a few of the hero pit bulls that you can read about.
Also in Washington State they are using rescued pit bull's as drug dogs and bomb detection dogs. Diane Jessup trains Pitbulls exclusively for this purpose stating that their drive and determination makes them the perfect dog for the job.
Pitbulls are not bad dogs. They are the victims of bad owners that train them in terrible ways and they are also the victim of bad press. These dogs only wish to please their owners and unfortunately some of the people that own these dogs are only pleased when the dog is doing things that many of us would consider criminal, and the dogs that belong to these people endure horrific trauma because of the owners. Please do not punish this wonderful breed of dog because of what humans are ultimately causing, and please do not punish the responsible owners that keep these animals as loving family pets.
Sincerely,
Dawn M. Pamplin
I was sent a fwd through a post about the breed ban and the other breeds that are on the "hit list". I am a dog trainer/service dog trainer in PA. Although i love all breeds, Pits being in the top 10, every single one of my coworkers HATE the breed and are constantly talking about how they hope like anything that this ban goes through. Even though i have talked about how first off it's not the breed itself its the people that breed irresponsibly as well "make them mean" because it's "cool to have a viscious dog", or they want "protection" or for fighting. I have also talking about how maybe someday down the line it won't just be pits that are banned it could be their labs since i have read in a few places on a survey that i believe cockers and labs are the two dogs that are the ones responsible for most bites... again mostly because it's a popular breed and people breed irresponsibly. No matter what i say they still they don't budge and constantly say how pits are a horrible horrible breed. Honestly i think people are just nieve and misinformed. Anyway what do you think? I'd be happy for your opinion and maybe i can help change the minds of these nieve people.
Peace
Kimberly
Harrisburg PA
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