By implementing this ban some dog owners are going to be forced to give up their dog or leave base housing.  Now, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island has agreed to try something new, they’re allowing animal behavior experts from the ASPCA to give temperament tests. The ban started in 2008 after several dog attacks happened on the base, one killing a 3-year-old boy.

Over 100 dogs will be tested and those who pass will get a waiver to stay on base until 2012. Here are the details from the ASPCA press release.

The assessment is a seven-item research-based assessment to help identify the likelihood for aggression in individual dogs.

“Our main goal in this program is to make sure safe dogs and their families are able to stay together,” said Dr. Emily Weiss, Senior Director of Shelter Research and Development for the ASPCA.

The ASPCA is very happy about this because they are against banning a particular breed. I totally agree with this,  we shouldn’t be punishing responsible dog owners based on the breed they chose.

* Fly studing for her test, although in her case I think it’s an agility exam.

Pit bull is a term commonly used to describe several breeds of dog, many breed-specific laws use the term “pit bull” to refer to the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and dogs with significant mixes of these breeds.

Recently a dog named Lucey was almost put down due to mistaken identity.  It all began when Angie Cartwright was pet-sitting for her brother and his dog got loose. Animal control officers picked up the dog and when he was returned saw Lucey.

The officers thought she looked like a pit bull and told Cartwright they were taking her in for testing, a DNA test. I found it interesting that they offered that option, as you’ll see in a minute it can be a lifesaving test.

Here are the details from KansasCity.com.

Today, Lucey is home, and Cartwright credits a genetic test kit that helps pet owners identify the heritage of their mixed-breed dogs.

The test found that a minor amount of Lucey’s DNA came from Staffordshire bull terrier genes — a little more than 12 percent, not close to a predominant percentage.

Without the test results, Cartwright and her family would have been faced with finding Lucey a home outside Salina, or leaving her at the animal shelter where she would be destroyed.

I am personally against BSL because I don’t think it solves the real issue, bad owners and bad breeders. This case is just one more reason it scares me, Lucey was taken away on the assumption she had bit bull in her. If it weren’t for the the DNA test wh0 knows what would have happened. I am impressed the time was taken to find out what breed(s) she really was.  I have no idea if all places that have BSL test like this, but they should. I also wonder if the test cost is charged to the owner, it isn’t an inexpensive test, usually about $140.

Interesting enough, the test showed the largest amount (25%) of Lucey’s DNA was Bernese mountain dog.  She had no more than 12.5 percent each of bull terrier DNA, boxer, and Staffordshire bull terrier.

You can’t judge a dog by its cover.

*Pic courtesy Tom Dorsey

I find this disturbing on so many levels, I hardly know where to begin.  When your power of choice is taken away and someone else steps in to make your decisions you no longer live in a free country. This isn’t about protecting you from a dangerous breed,  it’s about the government coming in and telling you what it deems a dangerous breed and therefore making it so.

Are we not capable of making our own decisions anymore?

Here’s a comment from Best Friends Animal Society, eloquently summing up all that is wrong with the proposed bylaw.

Best Friends Animal Society feels compelled to emphasize that the aim of this bylaw is to hunt down all dogs that have the appearance of a certain breed of dog and destroy any offspring.

This bylaw is a representation of misinformed policy-makers and public making panic-induced decisions without consideration of civil liberties and reason. It takes on a school of thought similar to the witch hunts that took place in Massachusetts over three hundred years ago whereby paranoia and panic is taking over logic and reason.

These assertions and recommendations are counterproductive to ensuring the safety of town residents and are wholly unsupported by any scientific evidence.

There you have it, start with this law and what’s next? Maybe only dogs with blond fur and blue eyes will be allowed to live-sound familiar?  Who’s going to be the judge of which dog has too much pit bull?  And what exactly is too much pit bull? After the pit bulls are destroyed what breed is next, and where does it end? Or will it ever end?

To all owners out there, just remember the old adage: First they came for the pit bulls and I didn’t speak up because I didn’t own one. Then they came for German Shepherds and I didn’t speak up because I didn’t own one. Finally they came for my Shih Tzu, and by that time no one was left to speak for me.

A law like this must not be allowed to pass, it is unjust and unfair. It takes away one of the best things about being an American….freedom of choice.

The City of Mashpee will hear about this alarming breed discriminatory bylaw at its Annual Town Meeting on October 19, 2009. Best Friends implores Massachusetts residents to take action and get in touch with their town representatives regarding this proposal.  Please go to their website for all the contact information and specifics on what to do.

*Pic of Sasha and Charlie courtesy Best Friends

Christie Keith, of the SF Gate, wrote an interesting article on the myths and misconceptions of two well-known breeds. She discusses why people avoid adopting both greyhounds and pit bulls because of all the misleading information that’s out there.

Pit bulls and pit bull mixes are in shelters in overwhelming numbers. They are the most common dog to be killed because no one will adopt them.

People now view them as  “killer dogs”  because of all the negative stories in the news,  preventing potential adopters from seeing the dog in front of them. Couple that with new breed specific legislation (BSL) and the likelihood of these dogs getting adopted is almost nil.

There’s no more maligned type of dog than the vast and diverse group of dogs known, rightly or wrongly, as “pit bulls.” I say “type of dog” rather than breed because the pit bull is not a single breed of dog, but a group of breeds and mixed breeds favored by dog fighters for their toughness, scrappiness, muscular bodies and willingness to fight with other dogs.

So, just who is the real pit bull? Good question. “These dogs have such a wide range of personality types, from couch potato to ones who want to run around all day — as long as it’s with you — and everything in between,” she said. “People need to look at each dog as an individual, not a breed.”

The “classic” or “real” American pit bull terrier is an outgoing, confident, people-loving dog that puts his heart and soul into everything he does.

Pit bulls, like any dog, need to be judged on an individual basis.  Many fighting dogs have been rehabilitated and gone on to be loving family pets. That’s not to say all pit bulls can be saved, there are some that are too far gone to ever be safe in anyone’s hands. The bottom line is the dog shouldn’t be judged by appearance only, there is a lot more that needs to be taken into consideration. Pit Bull Rescue Central is an  invaluable resource for information on all things related to pit bulls, including dogs that are looking for a home.

Greyhounds, on the other hand, are not rejected because of a bad reputation but the worry they are so high-energy they aren’t good in the house. This is totally untrue, they actually make very good couch buddies.

Sure, they’ll get up off the couch and go for a walk with you. They’ll race around happily if let off-leash in a safely fenced area. They might even deign to go jogging with you, if it’s not raining.

But they’re just as happy to cuddle on the couch and join you in watching “Project Runway” every night. A quick turn around the block or trip to the backyard twice a day for a potty break can be plenty of exercise for a retired racer.

“People worry they’ll be wild and crazy dogs that are going to be flying all over the place, and need to be taken several times a day to a big field where they can run in order to be happy,” said Barbara Judson of Greyhound Friends for Life, a Bay Area organization dedicated to finding homes for retired racing greyhounds. “The reality is that they’re couch potatoes.”

Retired greyhounds make wonderful pets, they are loving and affectionate, and they shed very little.  A friend in our neighborhood recently adopted a greyhound, he did need a little training (all dogs do) but he’s a great addition to their family.

If you’re interested in adopting a greyhound there are many rescue groups across the country. You can “meet and greet” at one the many Greyhound Friends For Life events.

I think Keith sums it up best with this advice,  “Just be sure to ask yourself, as you wander the aisles of the local shelter or click around the Web looking for a dog, if you’re choosing or rejecting a particular dog not because of who he is, but who you think he is.”

*Joe is a PB looking for a new home, he’s a big softie. Kevin is a greyhound with a big kissable nose, he loves both kids and cats. Both dogs are listed on Dogster’s Adoption Rescue Center, a great place to find your new best friend.

I received a very interesting email regarding legislation change happening in the UK, replacing the Dangerous Dogs Act with the Dog Control Bill.

According to Lord Redesdale, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was a reaction to high profile attacks and partly thanks to this, irresponsible dog owners now pick bull breeds as some sort of status symbol, breeding them to be tough and leading to animal welfare concerns.

Claire Robinson, the RSPCA’s Government Relations Manager, said:

“The RSPCA is delighted at the introduction of the Dog Control Bill by Lord Redesdale in the House of Lords. The Society has long stated that the Dangerous Dogs Act is flawed because it penalises dogs for their breed, rather than the deed of the owner.

“The Dog Control Bill instead places the emphasis on owners being responsible for their dogs – whatever the breed – in public and private places. For this reason the RSPCA has given its support to the principles of the Bill. The cross-party support the reading of the Bill received clearly shows there is widespread belief it is time the Government took another look at the current dog legislation and we believe the Dog Control Bill is a major step towards this.”

I’m also a believer that the problem with vicious dogs has more to do with the owner than the dog.  The spotlight needs to be taken away from wiping out the bully breeds by instituting BSL and focused on  making owners take responsibility for their dogs.  When a dog gets taken away usually it’s put down, the owner on the other hand gets a slap on the wrist. Until the penalties become painful to the owners don’t expect them to step up to the plate.

It would be great to see this kind of legislation pass in the US. Give me a bark and let me know what you think.

* ADOPTABLE: Calypso was saved from death row and is currently being fostered, she needs a loving forever home.

I received this from one of our Canadian Dogsters,  hopefully posting it brings some public awareness and support their way.

BSL UPDATE
Supreme Court of Canada challenge

Breed-specific legislation (BSL) came to Ontario in the form of Bill 132 and became law in August 2005. The bill established restrictions against owning, breeding, transferring, importing or abandoning “pit bulls” (defined as being Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers or any dog that has an appearance and physical characteristics substantially similar to any of those breeds).

The Dog Legislation Council of Canada (DLCC) and members of Banned Aid took up the fight against BSL and are now headed to the Supreme Court of Canada, but they need your help to get there.

This fight affects all dogs and fanciers because, “All breeds and mixes are now just a bad news story away, one pen stroke away from being wiped out by our government,” states DLCC president LeeAnn O’Reilly.

The DLCC needs to raise $67,000 by the end of January. Thus they launched the Dollars for Dogs campaign and are asking dog lovers to donate a dollar for every dog they own and love.

For more information about the DLCC and their campaign, you can read our blog or visit the DLCC’s site to learn how to donate.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this effort. Dogs in Canada encourages dog lovers to give generously.

Thanks Marg for barking this to me, eh.

* Who’s the Boss?

“Unconditional love is often not found in our world, but through man’s best friend it is a regular occurrence when a true friend is on both ends of the leash.”

Tony Loiacono, Creator & Executive Producer of “Faithful Friends.”

Pit Bulls are the bully target today, but it wasn’t always so.  Did you know that German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans and even the St. Bernard are considered aggressive? What happened to turn Pit Bulls into fighters, making them number one on the aggressive breed hit list?

The very qualities that make these dogs outstanding companion dogs — intelligence, loyalty, courage and trainability is how Michael Vick and 20,000-40,000 others abuse their strength and power in the multibillion-dollar dog fighting industry. “There is absolutely no true concept of sport in inflicting pain on those who only know how to love unconditionally,” said Wanda Goldberg, host of “Faithful Friends” on Animal Planet. “Be a voice for those without, abuse stops here, it stops now.”

Saturday, January 17th at 9am “Faithful Friends” on Animal Planet will be covering this topic. Host Wanda Goldberg and Dr. Marty Smith ,of Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Supplies, will expound on why it isn’t the dog’s breeding but the owner that makes the difference.

At the turn of the 20th Century, the American Pit Bull Terrier was the #1 family dog in the United States and Petey, a Pit Bull Terrier, was the de facto “babysitter” of the kids on the “Our Gang” TV show.

Today, they achieve the fourth highest passing rate of all 122 breeds tested with an 82.5% that took a temperament test vs. 77% of all breeds on average. But, it is the owners at the end of the leash that turned a lover into a fighter. In the US, dog-fighting is considered a felony in every state except Wyoming and Idaho.

Human intervention is trying to ban this breed with BSL, which is interesting because that’s exactly what turned these dogs into fighting machines.  Wouldn’t it be better to change the laws that govern dogfighting than creating new ones to eliminate a breed?

Why not focus on rehabilitation rather than extermination of Pit Bulls?  It’s truly amazing what can happen with patience and unconditional love. Out of the 53 dogs removed from Michael Vick 52 have now been adopted into loving homes.

One of them is even a therapy dog providing comfort to people going through chemotherapy. Does that sound like a vicious killer to you?

*Caesar with his true friend.

Here’s an interesting twist on the normal stories I report on regarding breed specific legislation.  Dog owners have banned together to bring a suit against four cities to question the constitutionality of BSL.

A judge Tuesday set a July 20 jury trial date for a group of dog owners and breeders who are challenging pit-bull bans in Jacksonville, Lonoke, North Little Rock and Beebe.

The trial of a lawsuit brought against the cities by Responsible Owners of Arkansas Dogs will be held before Chief U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes in Little Rock.

The lawsuit claims the breed specific bans and restrictions are unconstitutional.

Definitely want to keep an eye on this case, the outcome could be precedent setting. Thanks to Charli for barking this to me.

* The gorgeous girl above, the four-legged one, is Inky.  She was found tied to a  street pole and is currently being fostered. She  now has her AKC Canine Good Citizen award and is Therapy Dog International certified. SHE IS ADOPTABLE!

There is a bill to eliminate Pit Bulls in Montana, the entire state. This is a ludicrous bill that goes after innocent animals at the whim of a politician, it must be stopped.

Montana state Rep. Robyn Driscoll, a Democrat who represents the 51st District, has introduced a bizarre bill calling for the elimination of all “pit bulls” from the state. If the bill, H.B. 191, becomes law, owners must surrender their pit bull dogs which must then be euthanized within 10 days.

Those who don’t give up their dogs to be killed? Well, any peace officer is authorized to obtain a search warrant and come and get the dog.

The cost of paying animal control and other law enforcement officers throughout the state to round up family pets and kill them will be substantial. A task force found that a pit bull ban in Prince George’s County, Maryland, just one county, cost $560,000 in one year.

There are exceptions for pit bulls temporarily in the state, passing through, or attending a exhibition, show or competition “sponsored by a dog club, association, or similar organization”. Even for the dog to attend an exhibition, show or competition, the owner must obtain written permission from the county and the sponsor must take steps to “prevent [the pit bull dog] from escaping or injuring the public.” The only other exception is for a pit bull wearing a tag indicating it is a registered pit bull, but the registration and tag must have been obtained before the law’s effective date. Here is a copy of the bill.

The National Canine Research Council reports that between 1965 and 2008, there were 3 fatalities in Montana from dog bites. Yes, 3 in 43 years. In 2005 alone, just one year in Montana, 1,400 people died from smoking and 251 in traffic accidents. (Maybe Driscoll should work to protect Montanans from smoking and second hand cigarette smoke or negligent or drunk drivers; that would at least be something useful.)

The NCRC notes, “All the dogs involved … were …not spayed or neutered….All three cases involved unsupervised children left alone in a yard with unfamiliar dogs (2 cases) or the child wandering off and encountering an unfamiliar, chained dog (1 case).”

The bill, H.B. 191, is now in the House Local Government Committee. Check Animal Law Coalition for updates.

Take Animal Law Coalition’s poll on breed bans on this page!

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Write or call Rep. Robyn Driscoll and urge her to drop this breed ban. Tell her dogs don’t bite because of breed and breed bans don’t make communities safe from dog bites. Instead, they penalize responsible owners and greatly increase animal control costs. Send her the information found here. Be polite.

Robyn Driscoll, (406) 534-4874, rdriscoll@peoplepc.com

Contact the House Local Government Committee by calling Joe Kolman, 406-444-9280

Find Montana legislators and email, fax or call them and urge them to say no to H.B. 191. Here is the fax number for the House: 406-444-4825

This is outrageous and unacceptable to me. A good friend of mine was attacked by a German Shepherd over Labor Day weekend, a totally unprovoked attack.  She was walking on a beach with her Jack Russell when the German Shepherd, who was on a balcony of a house, spotted them. It somehow got out of the house and went after her, severely attacking them both.

To go after a dog who has bitten is one thing, to go after an entire breed on the premise they will someday bite is insane. Why aren’t the laws stricter against the people that run the dogfighting rings?  Not people who are alleged to run them, but those where there is hard evidence. The people that turn these dogs into fighters, who make them vicious, they are the ones that need to be eliminated.

One of the scariest sentences in the bill is…..(e) any dog that has been registered at any time as a pit bull terrier or has the physical characteristics that substantially conform to the standards established for the breeds listed in this subsection (2) by the American kennel club or the united kennel club.

The physical characteristics that substantially conform to the standards established for the breed?  What’s next? What if someone has a mix, when do you determine how much is too much PB?  Where does it stop?

This is outrageous, please get those paws busy and call, fax, or email the appropriate parties above to get this bill dropped.

* The beauty above is courtesy The Animal Law Coalition site.

There’s a movement of citizens inspired by the presidential campaign who are now submitting ideas for how they think the Obama administration should change America. It’s called “Ideas for Change in America.”

The top 10 ideas are going to be presented on Inauguration Day and will be supported by a national lobbying campaign.

Ban Breed Specific Legislation

It is unfair legislation and stereotypes these breeds as violent and vicious animals. Being an owner of 3 American Pit Bull Terriers, this infuriates me. Any dog can be vicious if the owners aren’t responsible. We should crack down on negligent and cruel owners and try to get to the real root of the problem– the humans, and stop punishing innocent animals who have no voice and the owners that love them.

Whitney Fisher

If you would like to make your voice heard go to Ideas for Changing America to vote.  Over 800 votes are still needed to get this topic into the top 10 which would allow it to be presented in Washington, DC.

There are also other animal welfare issues so take a look around the site while you’re there.

* The adorable pup above is Zeus.